Norton combination bench stone with a coarse Crystolon (silicon carbide) side and a fine India (aluminium oxide) side, for general sharpening and a long-lasting edge on all kinds of cutting tools. Used with oil.
Norton combination bench stone with a coarse Crystolon (silicon carbide) side and a fine India (aluminium oxide) side, for general sharpening and a long-lasting edge on all kinds of cutting tools. Used with oil.
Facts:
Length 152 mm (6")
Width 51 mm (2")
Thickness 25 mm (1")
Coarse side: Crystolon, silicon carbide
Fine side: India, aluminium oxide
There are several good ways to sharpen chisels and plane irons: water stones, diamond stones, oil stones and sharpening machines such as Tormek. All give sharp edges, but they differ in speed, maintenance and price.
A honing guide makes it easier to keep the same angle every time. The most important thing is to find a method you enjoy and use often. The guide helps you choose.
Which water stone you need depends on how dull your edges are and how fine a finish you want. A common setup is a coarse stone around 1000 grit to shape the edge and a fine stone around 5000–8000 grit to polish it. For chipped edges you need a coarser stone too.
Water stones wear unevenly and need flattening regularly. The guide explains grits, brands and flattening.