Norton India Stone

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1Ronin

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Jan 13, 2015
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I recently found what appears to be an old Norton India Stone. Not a combination stone just the fine India.

Now my first question should I soak it in some simple green to completely clean it. And if so what mixture 50/50 with water or just straight simple green, and how long.

Then after that should I put it in a bath of the Norton oil to soak. As of right now when I put oil on the stone it sucks it in fairly quickly. I have scrubbed it with hot soapy water. So it is not really dirty.

I also have one of the old red handled stones used for hand tools, that was my wife's Grandfather's. And it is really dry. Was also wondering if these were used that way or should I put oil on it as well. Was going to use it on some old axes.

Thanks
 
I would say a soak and scrub would be good, keep rinsing until there isnt any more dirty stuff coming out, to use technical terms :D.
A soak would be nice after in some oil, to let it fill up. maybe find something to keep it constantly soaking in?

Connor
 
You wrote that it is not really dirty after scrubbing it with hot soapy water. If that's the case, I wouldn't bother with a full-on degrease treatment unless you just want to. I have and use a Norton India stone. If you have let the stone dry completely after scrubbing with the water, I would suggest saturating the stone, not by putting it in a bath, but by by pouring oil on the surface and letting it soak into the stone. Then pour some more (don't let it spill over the top, just pour enough to pool on the surface). Repeat until it won't absorb any more oil. When you sharpen, you want to just have a sheen of oil on top. You don't want it to be dry and "thirsty" for more oil, nor do you want so much oil that it is sloshing off the surface. If it is a bit dry on the surface, you can put a few drops on the surface, just enough to get you to a sheen. That keeps the stone surface clean as the sheen of oil will float the swarf, allowing you to wipe it off.

As swarf develops from sharpening, wipe it off with a cloth. When finished, wipe all swarf from the surface with a rag and store the stone in an airtight container like a Ziploc bag so that it doesn't dry out. That will keep your stone in good shape and prevent it from clogging up. When you need to use it again, it should still be saturated and will only need a few drops to make a sheen on the surface again.
 
Mag probably gave you the best advice. I think the other India devotees here would say similar things.

So here I am to say something completely different. Take this with a grain of salt. I've normally stayed away from oil on any stone because I think it's messy and I don't really like it on my fingers and hands. So I've always used my India stone completely dry. It cuts just fine dry, but it will load the surface with swarf. I clean it off from time to time with soap and water, and agitate with fingers or a nylon brush.

I don't use my India stone very much at all. So again, take all of this with a grain of salt.

Brian.
 
To piggyback on Brian, I normally do the same with mine. I don't use oil with my surgical black Arkansas, or with any of my carborundum pocket stones. They've been cleaned of oil and I use water with them now. Mag does have best advice, I'm not a huge oil stone guy.

Take my choices with a couple grains of salt,
Con or
 
All roads lead to Rome, as they say. :) Ed Fowler likes to use his India stones with 2 - 4 (or more) parts water to one part simple green. Others have reported that works very well, too. I have only used mine with oil. If I buy a new India stone, I might try the Ed Fowler method with diluted simple green.
 
I've never tried Simple Green, have also heard Windex works well but again have not tried it. I started out using my stones dry, and then with soapy water, but found over time I'd have to lap them periodically to gain the best surface for grinding/removing burrs etc with the least amount of pressure. In my hands the stone was glazing, so switched to oil.

In my experience this keeps the surface like new, and over the long haul, for me, is less messy than water. It has the added bonus of allowing one to gently mop up the spent mud and swarf with a sheet of paper for use as a very effective improvised stropping compound - wrapped around the coarse side of the same stone.
 
I'd be tempted to use Simple Green, and have tried it and liked it for the most part. But it's somewhat corrosive on carbon (non-stainless) steel, with a fairly strong alkaline pH of ~9.5 +/- 0.5; it left rust spots all over a 1095 blade I sharpened using it for lube on the stone. So I've only used it for cleaning stones occasionally, instead of for sharpening. It works very well for that.

For heavier grinding on AlOx or SiC stones, I've preferred water only or dish soap + water. For lighter touch-ups and refining edges, I've preferred using a dry stone for that. I like the feedback of a dry stone, and that lends itself to a better finishing touch for me; I feel the bevels more with a lighter touch this way. And for me, it's also easier to feel the true condition of the edge with dry fingers as well, for the '3-finger sticky' type test of the edge.


David
 
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If it soaks the oil up rapidly I wonder if it is a Norton India as None of mine do that. With the cheaper china stones I've noticed that. I clean mine with a wire brush and WD-40 if there's not a lot of build up on it. If more build up is on it's surface it could take more cleaning. Then I use a few drops of mineral oil when sharpening as it's not messy to me and gives a good edge. DM
 
Thanks guys. I had also read Ed Fowler's article about using simple green. I have done that in the past with another stone and had good results. But I like using oil for the feedback and feel it gives.

As for David's comment about it being a China stone. It may be can not tell you sure it is a copy or not. But it feels and sounds almost identical to my USA made India stone. Just seemed to have dried out before I bought it at an antique store.

So I have got it oiled back up now and am looking at which knife is going to give it a work out.

One other quick question for those that have the Norton IM313 systems. Which I am really wanting to pull the trigger on in the near future. Do you fill the bath with oil or leave that dry and just coat the stones when in use? Especially if it is not in use that frequently.
 
Ok, yes your stone could be a Norton that has not been used much. My 313 I never fill the reservoir with oil. I apply a few drops to the stone prior to each sharpening session. Then wipe afterward. Plus, I transport mine weekly and that would create spills. That Tri-Hone is my hands down favorite to sharpen on. The stones are soo generous, making it a joy working on them. DM
 
Thanks David. I really want one of those. Now how to make my wife think it has been in the garage for years. And I have just started using it again. At almost a foot long I think she will notice right off the bat.
 
Haa, something may hit the fan... Or procure a used one. As they'll look used, you'll get a better price and with the use of a little sanding dust. She'll think it has been on the bottom shelf for sometime. Mine was a early one with the metal box. So, I had to get the dents out and sand & paint it. You won't regret it and it will last a lifetime or two. Thanks, DM
 
If its a metal case, a few whacks with a hammer, some sandpaper and dirt. A plastic case you can use a quick wipe with acetone to cloud it up and rub some dirt in it. Don't forget some dust, fuzz, lint etc inside the case and then to complete the psychological part of the deception, bring it in and clean it up on some newspaper right in the kitchen. "See honey, it cleans up like new, I could turn around and sell it for more than I paid already - whatta deal!"
 
Hahaha guys that is "wife maintenance & tinkering" so I guess we're on the right subforum
;)
Mateo
 
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Ron, another benefit is those early Norton stones found with the 313(U.S. made in Troy N.Y.) impart a finer/ different edge to your knife. Just clean them up and level it and you've got a 1st class system. DM
 
Good ideas guys. You all are the best. And now I'm on the hunt. I remember finding an old medal one but it was the smaller version not the 313. Will have to take a drive and see if she is still there.
 
I found one of these in my basement 2-sided though, it as a lucky find since I'm pretty cash strapped. Works better than my rapala sharpener that came with a fillet knife, thats for sure.
I'm new to sharpening but on my first try I got my crappy gerber paraframe to almost razor sharp and managed to shave a few hairs off my arm. I've been using mineral oil on it and an old leather belt for stropping.
Gotta test it out on my new "old hickory" butcher knives now and chop up a whole chicken.
 
Yeah it is really hard to beat those old Norton's. I have yet to try the newer ones made in Mexico so I can not tell you if they leave as good an edge. But for the price I may have to check one out.

Seems my stone collection just keeps growing. But I just can't help myself. Or if you ask my wife and kids they will most likely say I have a problem. Lol.
 
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