Comments on: All stones are not created equal. http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/ A mechanical watchmaker in a digital world Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:53:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: J.Peter http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-758 J.Peter Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:02:59 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-758 R. Smith, I use the small red fine India stone from Norton USA for my screwdrivers. Any fine India stone should do. With screwdrivers you want to leave some texture on the screwdriver (it helps to keep it from slipping.) Search screwdrivers here on my blog and you should find a post about preparing them properly. R. Smith,
I use the small red fine India stone from Norton USA for my screwdrivers. Any fine India stone should do. With screwdrivers you want to leave some texture on the screwdriver (it helps to keep it from slipping.) Search screwdrivers here on my blog and you should find a post about preparing them properly.

]]> By: R.Smith http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-757 R.Smith Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:34:24 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-757 Hi! I discovered your blog a month ago and have been reading it keenly ever since. I'm thinking of taking watchmaking up as a hobby. I'm after a single sharpening stone for re-shaping screw drivers. What kind of stone should I buy? I was interrogating an old watchmaker the other day and he says he uses files to maintain his screw drivers. Thanks, Rohan Hi!
I discovered your blog a month ago and have been reading it keenly ever since. I’m thinking of taking watchmaking up as a hobby. I’m after a single sharpening stone for re-shaping screw drivers. What kind of stone should I buy?
I was interrogating an old watchmaker the other day and he says he uses files to maintain his screw drivers.

Thanks,
Rohan

]]> By: J.Peter http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-74 J.Peter Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:26:49 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-74 Thanks, for the comment. If I am doing a lot of sharpening I use a light machine oil on the stones. I definitely use oil on the Arkansas stone also because it seems to allow the graver to glide around more smoothly and get a better polish, as well as keeping the stone clean. I find when sharpening screwdrivers or shortening a stem I'm in the middle of something else and oil is too much of a mess. I periodically put my stones in the ultrasonic to clean them out and they come out pretty nice, I then reapply some oil to the stone and work it in. This seems to trap some of the particles even if I don't apply oil to the stone at the time of sharpening so that it will come out next time I clean it. When sharpening tungsten I have used diamond stones, but I don't have one right now except on my diamond lap. A nice Honing oil, or even just water on the diamond stone works well for me. Thanks, for the comment. If I am doing a lot of sharpening I use a light machine oil on the stones. I definitely use oil on the Arkansas stone also because it seems to allow the graver to glide around more smoothly and get a better polish, as well as keeping the stone clean.

I find when sharpening screwdrivers or shortening a stem I’m in the middle of something else and oil is too much of a mess. I periodically put my stones in the ultrasonic to clean them out and they come out pretty nice, I then reapply some oil to the stone and work it in. This seems to trap some of the particles even if I don’t apply oil to the stone at the time of sharpening so that it will come out next time I clean it.

When sharpening tungsten I have used diamond stones, but I don’t have one right now except on my diamond lap. A nice Honing oil, or even just water on the diamond stone works well for me.

]]> By: Patrick http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-75 Patrick Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:05:56 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/19/all-stones-are-not-created-equal/#comment-75 What are your thoughts on the use of oil on sharpening stones? I personally use Norton Sharpening Stone Oil on my India and all grades of Arkansas stones. For me, it definitely keeps the stones clean which is important for keeping the stone surface pores clear of metal in order for the stones to work their best. However I've heard people say that you shouldn't use oil on the hard or translucent arkansas stones. Their argument is that the hard stones polish the metal rather then grind so you don't have the problem with the stone pores getting clogged. However I've tried not using oil on a new translucent arkansas stone but eventually started oiling it as it just works best for me. Like you, I sharpen my gravers and screwdrivers on my stones. And for my gravers when I need to do some shaping, I use a DMT medium diamond whetstone with good results and then work my way down to India and then Arkansas for polishing. What are your thoughts on the use of oil on sharpening stones?

I personally use Norton Sharpening Stone Oil on my India and all grades of Arkansas stones. For me, it definitely keeps the stones clean which is important for keeping the stone surface pores clear of metal in order for the stones to work their best. However I’ve heard people say that you shouldn’t use oil on the hard or translucent arkansas stones. Their argument is that the hard stones polish the metal rather then grind so you don’t have the problem with the stone pores getting clogged. However I’ve tried not using oil on a new translucent arkansas stone but eventually started oiling it as it just works best for me.

Like you, I sharpen my gravers and screwdrivers on my stones. And for my gravers when I need to do some shaping, I use a DMT medium diamond whetstone with good results and then work my way down to India and then Arkansas for polishing.

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