Recommended Starting Grits for Waterstones?

R

ritzblitz

Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
293
Hi everyone,

I'm about ready to start buying waterstones for sharpening/polishing. I will be sharpening knives, chisels, plane blades, etc. I plan to buy the Shapton stones since they seem to be the best, too bad they are so expensive. I guess you get what you pay for.

I am wondering what grits I should start out with. I was thinking something like this to start: 120, 1000, 5000, 8000, and a flattening stone with compound.

What do you think?

Happy Holiday,

Alex
 
I'd would go for a few steps between 120 and 1000 or you'll spend days getting the 120 scratches out. I go 120 then 400 then 800 then I switch to sand paper. I got my stones from buildingforhealth.com . I hope that helps
 
Agree. I start with 120 grit. They wear fast on an unsharpened blade. Get several.

rlinger
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Add at least 400. A large flattening stone is a must to redress the 120 and 400. I have 100, 400, 800, 2000, 4000, and an 8000 Kingstone. The 4000 and 8000 are really overkill and you can skip them to save money. A good strop and compound will do fine to finish any knife. Above 2000,a sheet of glass and diamond compound will get you to 100,000 if you have to go that far for plane blades and chisels.
Stacy
 
Thanks guys. I started out by ordering a 1000grit stone as well as the lapping plate with compound, both from Shapton.

Where can I find a piece of plate glass? At the window store?

Alex
 
Try any glass shop. Get 1/2". They might give you a 12X12" piece if they have a piece of cut off.
 
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