Opinions on Norton India Puck for axe sharpening?

D

Danketch

Joined
Apr 27, 2007
Messages
583
Hello all,

Somehow, I magically have a bunch of axes and hatchets now, and even though I don't use them that much, was looking for opinions on this stone. Its more $ than the silicon carbide Norton puck, and the Lansky puck, but is it any better/diff from the others? Money doesnt matter (except not buying the Gransfors Bruk $65 stone. b.s.) Anybody have the Norton India puck, and can share their opinions? Thanks
 
I have the lansky puck and personality i find it hard to use and leaves an ugly looking edge. I much prefer using just a file, and from there maybe going through a few grits in normal lansky stones or something similar.
 
I have the Norton SiC combination puck and it works ok for me. I do better with a 2X6" stone. I also have a 2X4" piece of a India broken stone which I carry and use. I like it a little better and still get better results from a stone. HeavyHands here uses a puck like you inquire about and he gets good edges with it. A different technique. There are gents over in the Axe and Hatchet Forum that use those with good success. You may post your question there and see. DM
 
Thanks DM. I have a 2x6 India and SiC stone already. I haven't done much sharpening of axes with either, but I could see the extra length being better for me than using a puck. I guess my question is more will the India stone give a better edge, or is that kind of my idear of old school sentimentality that the more traditional stone might be better?
 
Danketch said:
Thanks DM. I have a 2x6 India and SiC stone already. I haven't done much sharpening of axes with either, but I could see the extra length being better for me than using a puck. I guess my question is more will the India stone give a better edge, or is that kind of my idear of old school sentimentality that the more traditional stone might be better?
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Hi,

The puck is very well rounded all over :) and hand sized
where as with a square stone you could dig into a sharp corner

Thats about all the difference between the two that is obvious just by looking
It doesnt take much work to round sharp corners of a square stone
 
Danketch said:
Hello all,

Somehow, I magically have a bunch of axes and hatchets now, and even though I don't use them that much, was looking for opinions on this stone. Its more $ than the silicon carbide Norton puck, and the Lansky puck, but is it any better/diff from the others? Money doesnt matter (except not buying the Gransfors Bruk $65 stone. b.s.) Anybody have the Norton India puck, and can share their opinions? Thanks
Click to expand...

I have both, the fine india side leaves a great edge, you should really look into getting some files too. The stones are for finishing, files do the bulk of the work.
 
In general the India leaves a better (finer) finish than the silicon carbide/Crystalon. Either will leave an edge capable of shaving arm hair if used with a light touch.

My only issue with using an India stone for a puck is that often you won't be in a situation to use it with oil. Silicon carbide stones tolerate, recover better from being glazed by using them dry or with water, whereas the India will need to be reconditioned by lapping if it gets glazed. It will still work well, but need periodic maintenance.

Honestly I wasn't aware Norton made the India in an axe puck. I know they make a larger circular stone but at 4" across IIRC that's one big puck for traveling.
 
Not to toot my own horn too much, but you might consider one of my Arctic Fox pucks. Liam Hoffman personally endorses them, and Julia Kalthoff (former Wetterlings CEO) owns one. I'm personally cleaned out of them at the moment (more on the way) but Liam has some with his own marking on them in stock, and the Facebook "Axe Junkies" group has some available in their Etsy outlet with the group logo on them. They cut fast and leave a fine finish. You can see some work that I did with one here. :)
 
Dan, I cut 3 cords of wood each year. That's what we heat our home with. I use my axe for limbing and splitting. I sharpen them on both the SiC and India, what ever is handy at the time. The edge coming off the India is finer. Should I take the time to work it finer I may notice a little difference in how it cuts. I can tell after a cord it needs some stone work. DM
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Not to toot my own horn too much, but you might consider one of my Arctic Fox pucks. Liam Hoffman personally endorses them, and Julia Kalthoff (former Wetterlings CEO) owns one. I'm personally cleaned out of them at the moment (more on the way) but Liam has some with his own marking on them in stock, and the Facebook "Axe Junkies" group has some available in their Etsy outlet with the group logo on them. They cut fast and leave a fine finish. You can see some work that I did with one here. :)
Click to expand...

Shameless self endoresment :D :p

I've been curious, how is it different? Higher grit? different abrasive type? Or is it the same but more refined and with a cool color?

I've been intrigued about them but not sure if it was different enough to add to the pile of sharpening stuffs :D
 
It's the particular grade of the abrasive used, the blend of binder and its hardness, the ratio of abrasive to binder, the pairing of blends in the combo stone, etc. etc. Lots of factors beyond just what grit rating it is. It's an ANSI (Important: check grit charts when comparing to other stones using different grit rating systems) 400 grit on one side and 240 on the other, but grit is just the size of the abrasive particles, not their shape, composition, friability, protrusion, etc. etc. In the case of the Arctic Fox series the blend is medium-hard for fast cutting but without wearing excessively and providing good resistance to gouging. The grade of aluminum oxide used for the fine side is literally synthetic blue sapphires, as they're a heat-treated (calcined) form of aluminum oxide with the addition of iron and titanium, which lends the grains a bit of extra toughness. It's a high-friability grade, but not so friable as white. Long story short, the particular formulation of these allows them to both cut fast and leave a finish more akin to a 1000 grit stone. The grey side lets you scrub out file marks, then the blue side quickly brings it up to a high polish so you can get back to work instead of taking all day with it.
 
Thanks for the info fellas. I kind of thought the India would give a finer edge. But as HH pointed out, if I am packing it somewhere, have to be mindful of oil. The 4" circular stone is the India "puck" I was referring too.

I did check out your stuff 42, but all your pucks were sold out.. I guess I will do what I always do and buy the India and the SiC one, for science. I'm not in a heavy use situation, so either will work fine I'm sure.
 
We have another shipment en route to us now, but yes we're out at the moment.

SiC tends to cut faster but leave a coarse finish while Alox is slower cutting but gives a more refined finish.
 
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