What is your favorite stone?

M

mattyak

Joined
Feb 29, 2012
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100
So lets hear what everyone likes for finishing up axes! Diamond plated stones, Japanese Waterstones, Oilstones, Artificial or Natural? Lets hear it, what have you got?

I've been using a mill smooth cut Nicholson file for the rough work and then progressing on to a diamond medium grit plate followed by what I think is an old ceramic stone to finish up. If I want even better polish I like to use a little wet/dry sandpaper on a wood block to get a nice shine.
 
1x30 belt sander with micron-fine sharpening belts. :D

But if doing it manually, I like a bastard file followed by a dead smooth, then a fine DMT Diafold.
 
Norton combination Crystolon. Then either a diamond hone and steel or the buffing wheel.
 
My favorite stone is a very old double sided puck that was used for decades by my dad. I inherited it. After finishing with the stone, the final touches are handled by rough out leather on one side of a handle and smooth leather on the other. A razor edge can be had with some work.

Howard
 
I use an old alumina stone of my grandpas much like you can get at hard ware store followed by a 1000 grit sandpaper held tight on a hobby stick sander
 
I have a nicholson bastard file for rough work, but that's only really ever needed when I pick up old axeheads to recondition..

For actual sharpening, I have two dmt double-sided diasharps. One's 200/325grit, the other 600/1200grit. The size (6x2inches) works great for knives when layed down flat as a benchstone, but is just short enough to hold between the pinky and thumb to use like you would a puck. After that, I just give them a strop on a leather belt and that gives me a hairpopping edge.

For anything I do REALLY fine work with (axe-wise this is reserved to my 10" wetterlings), I'll go up to a 6000 then 12,000 waterstone and then stropping on a piece of balsa loaded with chrom oxide.
 
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A 6" mil bastid file, a 2 sided puck, sets of ceramic sticks, and sand paper. Yup, that's about it now.
 
I usually use a simple scythe sharping stone for my axes, hatchets and hawks. Nothing special, but it works pretty well. If there are some breaks in the blade´s edge I use an ordinary file and and then the sharping stone.

BTW: The sharping stone is used with water, but it can also be used without. But with water it works better...

I never tried out any electric sharping systems. I fear having no feel for the steel.

Kind regards
Andi
 
My fave is a 1x4 hard arkansas stone I got many years ago. Superb cannot get the same quality nowadays.
I use it dry,wet, with oil, spit ,and it is my favorite.
However it is not the most versatile I like the lansky puck a lot in the field.
On the work bench I have many
 
If I have to really reprofile my edge, I start with 100 grit aluminum oxide sand paper, and work my way up in grits until I achieve the right bevel.

If I am just touching my edge up, I use my favorite sharpening stone, my Fallkniven DC4. Once I am finished with that, I strop it on a home made 2x14" leather strop with green compound. All my axes will shave:D
 
For big job I like my big stone.

Big_stone.jpg


Actually about the only thing I use that for is sharpening floor scrapers. It's quicker than changing the blade. Just walk over to where this stone is lying on the floor and give it a few strokes on each side.
 
Holy behemoth there Peg!

Guys, this is great. Im still learning so hearing and seeing what everyone uses is awesome.
 
Square_peg said:
For big job I like my big stone.

Big_stone.jpg


Actually about the only thing I use that for is sharpening floor scrapers. It's quicker than changing the blade. Just walk over to where this stone is lying on the floor and give it a few strokes on each side.
Click to expand...

Biggest sharpening stone I ever saw! Bet it would cost a fortune. That double with the ribs who the maker?
 
I haven't found a maker's stamp on that double. Seems to be well made and lightly used. It's another one on the 'to do' pile.

I got the stone for free. Back in the 90's I was remodeling part of a factory which made sub-assemblies for Boeing. Next door was an abrasives factory. They had a pile of chipped stones out back that were headed for the trash - they couldn't sell them with a chip. They let me take what I wanted. I grabbed this big guy and stacked it with a dozen or so smaller stones. I gave a bunch of them away. I wore through a few of them and still have 1 or 2 around.

Sounds like a dream, huh?
lol.gif
 
i generally just use a nicholsond basterd file and a lansky puck the a strop.

i have a waterstone i use some as well as a old diamond stone. i really have been looking hard at those diafolds... those things look handy!
 
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