Grit Sizes of Old Ceramic Stones?

W

Working Edge

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Dec 14, 2020
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Hello,
My first posting here...
I'm hoping someone can advise me regarding the grit sizes of my two old Spyderco(?) ceramic stones, which I purchased from Garrett Wade, circa 1985.
The two stones measure 6×2×1/2; the pink stone puts a near-mirror finish on steel, and the white stone makes a true mirror polish.
Anyone have/use/remember these old ceramics?
Any idea of their grit sizes?
Thanks in advance,
Mark
 
Grit sizes can be a misnomer for stones. If those stones you have are sintered ceramic it becomes even more meaningless.

Try and go for the edge they leave if you wish to use them in a progression. For reference near mirror polish is around the 3000-5000 range and mirror polish 6000 and above. Whatever the rating they are very fine and therefore in the finishing stone bucket
 
Grit size ≠ surface finish. Sintered ceramics function closer to an extremely fine file rather than like sandpaper and the surface finish of the stone has a big impact on the finish produced on the steel. The actual grit size is mixed as it assists in the sintering process but averages about 3µm if I remember right.
 
We have a Spyderco sub-forum here that Sal Glasser routinely interacts in. Post the question in there and you might well get an answer from the inventor. :)
 
Eli Chaps said:
We have a Spyderco sub-forum here that Sal Glasser routinely interacts in. Post the question in there and you might well get an answer from the inventor. :)
Click to expand...
Eli,
Would you take a moment to post a link to Sal's sub-thread?
No luck so far, locating it...
Thanks again,
Mark
 
Craig James said:
Grit sizes can be a misnomer for stones. If those stones you have are sintered ceramic it becomes even more meaningless.

Try and go for the edge they leave if you wish to use them in a progression. For reference near mirror polish is around the 3000-5000 range and mirror polish 6000 and above. Whatever the rating they are very fine and therefore in the finishing stone bucket
Click to expand...
Because of their smaller size, I find those two stones less than ideal for use on other than the smallest of blades.
That said, I'm fixin' to make a pair of 11.5×3 lapping plates with which to use lapping films which I have on hand, to supplant these two smaller ceramics into my workflow.
That's the original reason I was hoping to get a read on the two grit values.
Thanks again,
Mark
 
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