Arkansas stone - well, 2 and a Carbide

[Druid]

I am fed up of having "cheap and nasty" sharpening equipment so this is coming soon!
I ordered the last 8" set for £30 ($45)

Tri Hone 3 Stone Sharpening Block - Arkansas

If i should have checked first, well, it's to late.

I only add this as i often get the "You should have said 'cos............." Looking forward to the postie though!


I also got this Norton MS-14 for £10 in a local Ironmongers shop, so a good day.



Sorry if my tone sounds a bit off it's 'cos it's a lot of money for me. I read a lot of info here on the site and on the net in general and Arkansas seems a good choice.
Thanks to all of you who's opinions are found with the site search.

Druid

[steve brown]

I have tried power sharpening and ruined a few tools. I always go back to the old basics. I do use a buffer though.
Steve Brown Woodcarving

[davidinsarasota]

Beautiful Druid. They say to use plenty of oil so it does not 'glaze'. Also supposed to have something to flatten them.

[Druid]

Originally Posted by steve brown

I do use a buffer though.

I already made a strop (12" hardwood with leather 2 sides) so that's covered, works well, Oh the back of a notepad and a marble tile 6" Sq. is also in the kit. All i need to do now is repair the damage caused by learning on bad stones.

Originally Posted by davidinsarasota

They say to use plenty of oil so it does not 'glaze'. Also supposed to have something to flatten them.

Duly noted, thanks!

[Robson Valley]

Druid: yes, lots of money but the results will be gratifying.
Get a new & cheap oil stone. LOTS of motor oil, I use 5W40. Grind the old stone against the new one in a random pattern, flush with lots of oil and paper towel for the drool. Also, I use a cheap, brass-bristly BBQ brush for scrubbing oil stones to get rid of the swarf.

Water stones (which I recommend) can be flatted against a big mill file that's clamped to the bench. If you don't beat the bejeezlies out of your tools, waterstones and fine Arkansas stones will last a long time. Soft? Yes. Just don't lean into it, you're not trying to sharpen a plowshare.

Put some black felt marker on the bevel so you can see where the metal is coming off.
LOCK your elbows to your side so you sway back and forth = that way, you can't raise your elbows to round off an otherwise flat bevel.
Make some silly triangles with a protractor so you can reassure yourself what 10 degrees or 15 degrees really is.

[Bruce Bird]

Hi Druid
I bought a hard Arkansas 2x8" stone 30 years ago and still use it. I use mineral oil for a lube. It is a good idea to have different grades of stones. Course,medium,and hard. Then just practice and pay attention to what you are doing
Bruce

[Druid]

Well it's "lost in the post" and no new stock until the end of February so now i have to wait or go with a 6" as a replacement. Trouble is with my luck if i go with the 6" the 8" will turn up as soon as i start to use the 6" and then i will have to return the 8". Gutted is an understatement.

[Robson Valley]

Well. Isn't that enough to rot your socks? Here I thought that Canada & Storage were the only ones to do that.
In the mean time, see if you can find some automotive, paint-finishing, sandpaper.
Usually 1500 and 2000 grits, wet&dry. Firmy attached to good flat surfaces,
it isn't half bad. I prefer stones but the papers are the foundation for the "scary-sharp" edge work and results.

[Druid]

Well the saga continues-

I opted for a 6" as a replacement and it arrived today, BUT well you can see in the photo below. Yes they will replace it and do a visual inspection before dispatch but i still feel very let down by this service.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

May have happened in the mail??

Dave