New Sharpener, need advice

Matt Rochester

Matt Rochester

Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Messages
1,864
I picked up this set of stones from a friend. It came out of the meat dept of a winn-Dixie that closed. As you can see 2 of the 3 stones are worn pretty bad. I need some replacements but don't know which ones to get. If you could only have 3 stones which ones would you get? The tan colored one is in the best shape. It's the finest but doesn't seem very fine. Thanks.
 
Norton has a very enduring product line. If you do a search of "IM-313" you'll find a bunch of hits, hopefully one of the site sponsors sells replacements - a coarse and medium Crystalon and fine India.

Great set!
 
Seems like I saw the India stone was 350 grit. It doesn't seem fine enough. Just a little background, I'm a maker and have been using my grinder to set the edge and finishing on a sharpmaker.I am thinking of trying to do all my sharpening by hand. I take my edges down around .010" before sharpening. Should I get a diamond stone for the initial sharpening or will a course work? Most of my knives are Cpm154 at 61rc.
 
Norton rates their fine India at 320 grit but it breaks in more like a 400 grit. This unit Norton's IM-313 is a great setup and will easily sharpen the steel you mention and many more. You're going in the right direction. Just get the replacement stones. Edges coming off a fine India will easily shave every hair it touches. Work on your technique. The 313 is not a cheap unit and it offer great economy for years. I have one and have used mine for years. I like the stones generous size. DM
 
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Since I have gotten into making kitchen knives I need a larger stone. I also like the size. Could I use the course stone to establish the bevel on cpm154 at 61rc? Or should I get a diamond stone for that and then get a medium, fine, extra fine for the IM-313?
David Martin said:
Norton rates their fine India at 320 grit but it breaks in more like a 400 grit. This unit Norton's IM-313 is a great setup and will easily sharpen the steel you mention and many more. You're going in the right direction. Just get the replacement stones. Edges coming off a fine India will easily shave every hair it touches. Work on your technique. The 313 is not a cheap unit and it offer great economy for years. I have one and have used mine for years. I like the stones generous size. DM
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Get the coarse crystalline, medium crystalline and the fine India that came with it. The original format that Norton provides with it works. Once again, "this stone material will cut the steel you're mentioning and many more". You do not need diamond. These will wear far better than diamond. DM
 
You're welcome. Yes, use the coarse stone to establish the bevel, setting the angle. That's the one I use and it works. It doesn't take long. So, move on to the next stone to work the burr remnants off. I use about 10-12 drops of mineral oil on it then work it in with my finger. You may like something else. Just keep using them with your method and observe how they preform. I think they are work-horse stones. Good luck, DM
 
Only thing I can add is try to use as much of the stone as possible, alter your path so it doesn't want to dish. The India is a really tough long-lived stone that won't show much dishing, but the Crystalon can dish with concentrated use. Not as fast as a waterstone, but over time. On mine I tend to do the rough work close to the ends and finish in the middle. Over time my stones will tend to have a slight domed shape or just stay essentially flat rather than develop the dish shape your old stones have.
 
While I concur with Heavy on the crystalline stones will dish. Through the years I've only had to level my coarse stone because of this malady and that was noticed in the middle part. Now I use different parts of the stone as he suggests and I've not noticed it. Plus, looking back what caused that condition was I did a couple of axes. Which required more metal removal and the coarse sloughs it's grit more so than the fine crystalline. It's just the way it's made. Larger grit particles leaves more void between particles, thus they are held less tightly in place than the finer grit. The India is made different and it does not wear like a crystalline. I'd be surprised if you needed to level the india stone more than once in 30 years. And that would be with a Lot of sharpening. Matt the India stone on your set looks like an older USA made stone. Those give a finer finish on a blade. DM
 
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