Why do I have to pee on my Edge Pro stones?

D

DGG

Joined
May 3, 2005
Messages
2,293
Why do I have to dunk my Edge Pro stones in water for a half hour before using them?

What does this do except make a big mess all over the workbench?

My Sharpmaker doesn't require you to do this with their ceramic rods. My DMT whetstone is used dry.
 
Waterstones are used wet for a couple of reasons, primarily because the slurry that develops is actually part of the sharpening, it also keeps the stone from loading and vastly increases cutting ability because the abrasive wears much faster as it is broken down easier.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
Waterstones are used wet for a couple of reasons, primarily because the slurry that develops is actually part of the sharpening, it also keeps the stone from loading and vastly increases cutting ability because the abrasive wears much faster as it is broken down easier.

-Cliff
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Cliff, why doesn't everyone use them if they are so superior? I didn't think ceramic ever developed a slurry because it is multiple times harder than the hardest steel, unlike Arkansas, Japanese, etc. stones.
 
metallicat said:
I thought maybe you accidently dropped them in the john??? sorry couldn't resist :D
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Good one. Because of the water flying everywhere I'm beginning to think I'll write a new book entitled, "Diary of a Nude Knife Sharpener". Of course I'll have to get some professional models for the photographs. Anyone know Playboy's web site address?
 
DGG said:
Cliff, why doesn't everyone use them if they are so superior? I didn't think ceramic ever developed a slurry because it is multiple times harder than the hardest steel, unlike Arkansas, Japanese, etc. stones.
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The abrasive particles are much harder than steel, but the bond inbetween those particles can be much weaker, depending on how the ceramic is fired. In the ceramic stones like the white Sharpmaker rods the bond between the particles is about as hard as the particles themselves. In other ceramics other binders are use. And then there are waterstones that don't have a ceramic bond at all. In those the particles are bonded by a resin or clay. Compare it to sandpaper: The particles on the sandpaper is very hard, but you can easily scratch it off the backing.
 
no input on the stones... you may get a lot of replies just because of the title... i'm dying over what laceration says above. LOL
 
I have the Edge Pro Apex with instruction DVD. Nowhere does it say to soak the waterstones for 1/2 hour. I don't even think these are real waterstones, at least that is what I understood.
 
I always soak my EdgePro stones for.........well.......I don't know what for but I do it anyway. :D

Seriously though, it's not necessary to soak the stones. I do so because I fill a plastic bin with water and chuck the stones in there while I'm working. I think, if I remember correctly, that I liked the coarser stones really wet but that's just a personal preferance.


--Dave--

PS - If you do pee on your stones let us know how it works out for you. :)
 
Ceramic stones, like sharpmaker rods clog, and lose efficiency when they do. Waterstones do not, but you do have to lap them. I don't mind lapping.
 
DGG said:
What does this do except make a big mess all over the workbench?
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I usually aim for the toilet. It doesn't make so much of a mess. :D

Sorry, I don't have any info on the stones :rolleyes:
 
IUKE12 said:
I have the Edge Pro Apex with instruction DVD. Nowhere does it say to soak the waterstones for 1/2 hour. I don't even think these are real waterstones, at least that is what I understood.
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IUKE12 -

Here is some info that I found both from Edge Pro and others about soaking your stones.

http://www.edgeproinc.com/New_Folder3/EdgePro Accessories.htm

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/762860/

Edge Pro talks about how much better their "water stones" are than Japanese water stones. I think the DVD assumes you already know all about water stones.

http://www.fine-tools.com/japwas.htm
 
Kryosphinx said:
I usually aim for the toilet. It doesn't make so much of a mess. :D

Sorry, I don't have any info on the stones :rolleyes:
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Kryo -

That's the closest water source I have for soaking my stones before using them.
 
Sharpening is too much for you - find a hobby more along the lines of your capacity to do those few simple things that are required of the tools.

A hammer is a pretty self-sufficient tool - maybe find something that only needs a hammer?

MAT
 
DGG said:
IUKE12 -

Here is some info that I found both from Edge Pro and others about soaking your stones.

http://www.edgeproinc.com/New_Folder3/EdgePro%20Accessories.htm

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/762860/

Edge Pro talks about how much better their "water stones" are than Japanese water stones. I think the DVD assumes you already know all about water stones.

http://www.fine-tools.com/japwas.htm
Click to expand...
Thanks for the links, I will experiment with soaking the stones as suggested.
 
Waterstones cut a lot faster than ceramics do, yet the finer ones leave a nicer finish than the DMT diamonds.
 
GarageBoy said:
Waterstones cut a lot faster than ceramics do, yet the finer ones leave a nicer finish than the DMT diamonds.
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Garage Boy-

Thanks for your input. However the Edge Pro developer doesn't agree with you.

He claims that his "ceramic" waterstones are better.

http://www.edgeproinc.com/New_Folder3/EdgePro Accessories.htm


There seem to lots of different kinds of "ceramic" and I'm not sure one can generalize about their properties.

http://users.ameritech.net/sharpening/mohs.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceramic

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2123

http://www.dynacer.com/hardness.htm



Have you evidence of this comment that waterstones cut faster than ceramics? I think ceramic on a Moh's scale is higher (harder) than any natural stone except diamond.

If so please post a link. Isn't it fun playing around in the water though? I feel like a lab puppy in a kiddie pool whenever I use my Edge Pro Apex! It sure can flat put an edge on a knife.
 
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