Pocketstones for sheath or pack.

[hiwa]

Today, I took some benchstones and cut some pieces off , to make smaller stones for bush kits. I cut them on a 10" Delta mitre saw with a 10" diamond blade. Went through like butter. Then I sanded the rough edges on my belt sander. Worked really well. I advise to clamp the stone, cut slowly, and wear a dust mask and safety goggles if you want to try this. I assume no liability for your safety, but it's easy to do.

I used commonly available bench stones ( Nortons) that you can buy anywhere.Measure carefully, as you want usable pieces,and a cut-off that you can still use as a benchstone(unless you want to chop the whole stone up.)

Norton fine india:

Assorted stones:

Bush kit:

Addition for the CS Bushman pouch:

Thanks for checking it out.

 

[7rip13a]

Nice work, good tips. Reminds me of the Randalls and how they have a little pouch on the sheath for a stone.

 

[hiwa]

Thanks. I thought they would be hard to cut, but not at all. You can make around three or four pouch stones for around $10. I couldn't find small stones much around here anymore, so I made my own.

 

[carspidey]

nice... i need to start packing a sharpener of some sort... this might be a good idea thanks...

 

[brians]

Very nice. I also prefer small stones for field sharpening.

While up in Canuckistan, I dropped into a Lee Valley hardware store and grabbed one of these ceramic stones. Works well, but likely a bit more expensive than you method great idea.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=44628&cat=1,43072

 

[Mannlicher]

I carry a small diamond hone, and a ceramic stick. I don't recall having to touch up a blade in the field in years though.