I have 3 stones that I know nothing about. Noob question.

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ponq

Joined
Nov 11, 2013
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I am relatively new to the finer points of maintenance and sharpening. I have 2 stones that I picked up at garage sales earlier in the year. The third came with a victorionox swiss champ, so I'm sure with some research I could figure out what that stone is.

Is there a guide or method for discovering how best to use the stone if I do not know the grit?

Is there more to stones than just the grit, shape and size?

I would like to learn how to do this on the fly as I find used stones.

I'm sure experience is the best method, but where to start?
 
You may want to post pictures so we can tell you what they are but yes there are a few different types

Ceramic stones are usually a zirconia ceramic I believe and cut very slow but are extremely fine and leave a very smooth polished edge

Arkansas stones are natural stone harvested from quarries then milled to shape. The stone does abrade so it will require lapping and it cuts pretty quick and usually leave a toothier edge

Water stones are synthetic or natural stones that cut quickly due to particles of stone breaking off constantly being replaced by sharper stone. These have the shortest life but the largest grit range

Diamond stones are crystalline diamonds that are bonded to a metal plate with nickel alloy usually and cut very fast and leave a toothier edge than ceramic but it is much harder to break a diamond stone by dropping it and they never need lapped
 
Usually grits around 100-800 feel very rough.
1000-4000 will be smoother, like chalk.
4000-10,000 grits feel like silky glass.
 
Here are pics of the stones.
767y.jpg
 
The shorter wider one looks like a silicon carbide bench stone. The other one looks like a stone for sharpening garden tools by grasping the stone and rubbing it along the sharpening bevel. Those tend to be very coarse grit.
 
When in doubt, use it with water, use light to moderate pressure, and pay attention. If you think the stone was used with oil at some point, mix in some soap. If you don't want to risk it and start fresh, you can clean out the stone by boiling in water on top of dish rags, dish washer, lacquer thinner or any heavy duty degreaser. And lap the stone on loose grit to give you a fresh surface.

Stone characteristics range from the abrasive (hardness, shape, size or sizes, density), the bonding agent or matrix (wear rate, porosity, flexibility), the ratio of the two and surface finish. If you get a new one, compare it to the stones you already have to see where it fits. Even the coarsest of grits can get a paper slicing edge as long as you know how to form and clean an apex without going to higher grits. You can get an assorted pack of wet dry sandpaper form any auto store. They tend to range from 400 to 3000. This would give you a good starting point for grit comparisons.
 
You might want to have a look at this
http://www.knifecenter.com/info/sharpening-faq

You might want to pick up a flat piece of glass and some silicon carbide grit for flattening and unclogging the used stones you purchase. A good alternative to used stones are the Norton Crystalon or India combination stones which cost less then $20.
 
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