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1000 grit waterstone getting loaded while sharpening

K

KennyB

Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
2,312
I notice that my water-stone is getting loaded while I'm sharpening. At least it seems that way, because the surface starts to get this greyish look to it. Most of it washes away, but it seems like it's getting loaded up a little bit?

Why is it doing this? I've been keeping it soaking in a tub so it's not that. Only thing I can think of is that from time to time I'll examine the edge and while I"m looking at it the stone dries up.

Anyone have an idea why this is happening? I use a Norton water stone, so maybe because it's synthetic?
 
Kenny B
Are you keeping the stone wet all during your sharpening cycle? I soak mine, which is a Combination King stone, for 15 min. or so prior to using, until no bubbles are leaving the stone. Then pour or spray water on the stone all during the sharpening time that I use it. If you are doing this then maybe someone else has a answer.
 
rpttrsn said:
Kenny B
Are you keeping the stone wet all during your sharpening cycle? I soak mine, which is a Combination King stone, for 15 min. or so prior to using, until no bubbles are leaving the stone. Then pour or spray water on the stone all during the sharpening time that I use it. If you are doing this then maybe someone else has a answer.
Click to expand...

Well, the stone is drying up a little bit when I take the knife off to look at the edge, but it's like going from a puddle to a saturated wet surface, so I'm not sure if that counts as not having water on it, but that would be the only time. It happens really fast, I only really look at the edge for maybe a minute, then I look at the stone and it will have only a slight puddle left.
 
I'm guessing you are sharpening a stainless? You are probably experiencing glazing, its something that happens when sharpening a stainless on waterstones. You should use a nagura stone or small diamond plate to keep the surface clean.
 
does it affect the performance ?

waterstone often keep a trace of each of your strokes, depending of the brand, the steel you'r sharpening, the pressure you put, the amount of soaking ....

it's not a real problem on my stones, there's a slight staining when i put a little bit too much pressure before some slurry is formed, usually whashes away when relieving the pressure or when slurry forms ...

anyway if the stone keeps cutting don't bother.
 
Hmm, nah knifenut, it happens with both stainless and carbon.

It doesn't really effect performance though (not to a really noticeable extent really), and now that you've mentioned it pwet, it does clear up after I've worked up a slurry. It just takes a lot of grinding to work a slurry up on the Norton, so I think I might be able to use a nagura stone anyway.

Are they all created equally or are there more recommended ones? I notice Norton make their own but it's probably spendier than some...
 
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for 1k anyone will do. if you want to make a slurry on a polishing stone get diamonds only. a synthtic nagura may loose some grits on your slurry.
 
a little bit of left over buildup is fine. if the stone dries up while you are looking at the edge, just add a little water before you continue.

take a pic of your stone.
 
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jimnolimit said:
take a pic of your stone.
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah, should have thought of that before.

My camera doesn't take all that great of pics sometimes, but it's more visible up at the top when actually viewed.

waterstone.jpg
 
knifenut1013 said:
What should we be seeing :confused:
Click to expand...

Well, I take it by that question it's normal if it looks a little loaded like that? It's never really been that bad in the past. I mean, during sharpening yeah, but it always cleaned up; this is kind of sticking on.

Anyway, I guess it's not a problem at all then. If anything I've still got sandpaper, but I didn't quite know if it was normal or if it was building up too much.
 
It still goes when flattening ? I mean you flatten it right ? À 1k stone should be lapped before/after every sharpening session imo
 
@pwet,

Usually when I get done sharpening I've been going at it for a while, so I save the flattening for the start of next time. So this is before flattening.
 
I think what KennyB is describing is just the slurry, and not abnormal black particles spewing out of the stone.

Grinding metal on the stone will create a black liquid mixture and it is washable. Don't worry about it as that's how it's supposed to work

Such is normal on any Waterstone.
 
As I use a waterstone also, I noticed that you use a terrycloth. Do you put it under the stone while sharpening? If so I did this also and found that the cloth actually pulls the water out of the stone and dries it somewhat. Try a piece of plastic just under the stone to keep it from drying out and see if that helps.
 
i use (thin) rubber cabinet shelf liner to keep my stones from moving. i constantly drip water on the stone im using and keep all the other stones that will be used submerged in water.
 
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