Flattening sharpening stone on concrete sidewalk?

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Rip Gut Tactical

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I picked up a brand new 12 inch sharpening stone and I need to get a good flat surface on it before I start using it. I heard there's a method to flatten it on a concrete sidewalk. Has anybody here ever used this method? I was thinking about using 320 sandpaper first and then maybe try the concrete sidewalk after, what is the proper way to do it?
 
If the stone is new, why do you want to flatten it? It should be flat.
 
it's the exact one as this
SS-1211.jpg
 
I'd smear a little vaseline into it, just a thin film. Then a few drops of mineral oil and off you go. Try to use as much of the surface as you can. Murray Carter has some good videos on this.
The vaseline will keep the oil from soaking right into the stone, and the oil will promote the release of fresh abrasive and keep the ground off steel and abrasive residue from choking the stone. You can flatten it as you sharpen your tools.

A smooth sidewalk and a lot of water should work as well, just do figure 8s as you go. That stone is liable to dish if you only work it in one spot/area.
 
I personally think the "flat stone" thing is a little over rated as long as it's not too dished out. Anyhow, since you asked, I'd find a nice piece of smooth concrete and then dump some water and dish soap and then "flatten" it in a figure eight motion with about 8-10 inches between left and right sides. I'd also flip it 180 degrees and rotate the L-R axis 90 degrees a few times. Maybe even throw in a few circles and sweeping S turns. At the end of the day, I'm not sure you will be any better off than had you just let the high spots wear down with normal use, but it would be interesting. Key for me would be finding a smooth sidewalk.
 
A sidewalk will "rough" a stone flat taking a lot off. For everyday flattening you can use one stone against another.
 
A sidewalk? I am in the concrete industry and have poured more than my share of sidewalks. It would be awfully hard to find a sidewalk that is actually flat - couldn't think of a worse surface to try and flatten a stone on. Many many variables involved, not the least of which is the level of workmanship involved in whatever piece of sidewalk you are looking at. You might get lucky and find a piece that is flat, but I would sure want to throw a level on it to make sure. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
 
stevewest said:
A sidewalk? I am in the concrete industry and have poured more than my share of sidewalks. It would be awfully hard to find a sidewalk that is actually flat - couldn't think of a worse surface to try and flatten a stone on. Many many variables involved, not the least of which is the level of workmanship involved in whatever piece of sidewalk you are looking at. You might get lucky and find a piece that is flat, but I would sure want to throw a level on it to make sure. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
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Just flattened my stone on concrete, worked great.
 
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