12-30-2023, 12:42 PM
I just use arkansas stones these days - I appreciate the low upkeep of a lilywhite and keeness of edge from a surgical black (good enough to pare hairs lengthwise, so much finer than working sharp for wood.)
I do still have an old Norton 8000(?) grit yellow waterstone, but wonder if the matrix has a shelf life, as it seems to gum up in a flash, don't remember if it always did, so it isn't a stone I have much use for (it isn't oil from tools, I've even tried swabbing tools with alcohol first to make sure no oil involved). I don't find use for an abrasive strop either for straight edges, just for gouges, though even these I prefer slips and fine stone files.
I may be mistaken, but it seems abrasive stops are just an alternative to suitably unweighted final strokes on a fine hard stone. A talced strop has a use for worrying away recalcitrant wire edge from gummy steels (i.e. just the same stropping you'll get from a palm or pant leg, assuming folks don't rouge these lol)
I do still have an old Norton 8000(?) grit yellow waterstone, but wonder if the matrix has a shelf life, as it seems to gum up in a flash, don't remember if it always did, so it isn't a stone I have much use for (it isn't oil from tools, I've even tried swabbing tools with alcohol first to make sure no oil involved). I don't find use for an abrasive strop either for straight edges, just for gouges, though even these I prefer slips and fine stone files.
I may be mistaken, but it seems abrasive stops are just an alternative to suitably unweighted final strokes on a fine hard stone. A talced strop has a use for worrying away recalcitrant wire edge from gummy steels (i.e. just the same stropping you'll get from a palm or pant leg, assuming folks don't rouge these lol)
Make your wood sing!
