There are a number of ways to sharpen your woodworking tools. Most are kept sharp through the use of an abrasive whetstone to wear the metal to a thin cutting edge. The better quality natural stones are higher priced, but you can obtain good results from cheaper, man-made stones. As part of the sharpening, whetstones are lubricated with oil or water to ensure the steel will not overheat and to prevent fine particles of stone and metal from collecting on the coarse surface.
Normally, whetstones are purchased as rectangular blocks - often called bench stones - for sharpening everyday tools or as small knife edges or teardrop section stones for honing gouges and carving chisels. Blades can also be honed on a perfectly flat metal plat that is dusted with abrasive powder.
Oilstones: The majority of man made and natural sharpening stones are lubricated with light oil. Novaculite, often considered to be the finest oilstones on the market, are only found in Arkansas. This compact silica crystal occurs naturally in different grades. The coarse, dappled-gray Soft Arkansas stone eliminates metal quickly and is used for the preliminary shaping of edged tools. The white Hard Arkansas stone puts the honing angle on the cutting edge, which is then polished and refined with the Black Arkansas stone. Even finer is the uncommon translucent variety.
Man-made oilstones are produced from sintered aluminum oxide or silicon carbide. Classified as fine, medium or coarse, man made sharpening stones are considerably less expensive than their natural counterparts.
Waterstones: As it is comparatively friable and soft, a sharpening stone that is lubricated with water cuts quicker than an equivalent oilstone. Fresh abrasive particles are exposed and released continuously while a meta blade is rubbed across the surface of the waterstone. Yet this soft bond also makes a waterstone vulnerable to unintended damage, particularly when honing thin chisels that could score the surface. Naturally occurring waterstones are so high-priced that most suppliers of tools sell just the artificial types, which are practically as effective.
Diamond Stones: Exceedingly strong fine and coarse grade sharpening 'stones' are produced of nickel plated steel plate that is embedded with monocrystalline diamond particles and bonded to a stiff polycarbonate base. These quick-cutting sharpening tools, offered as slender files and bench stones, can be used dry or lubricated with water. Diamond stones will hone steel and carbide tools.
Metal Lapping Plates: Available as alternatives to traditional sharpening stones, oiled steel or cast-iron plates sprinkled with progressively finer bits of silicon carbide turn out a perfectly flat polished back to a plane or chisel blade and razor-sharp cutting edges. For the ultimate cutting edge on steel tools, finish with diamond-grit compound spread on a flat steel plate. Diamond abrasives are also utilized to grind carbide-tipped tools.
Normally, whetstones are purchased as rectangular blocks - often called bench stones - for sharpening everyday tools or as small knife edges or teardrop section stones for honing gouges and carving chisels. Blades can also be honed on a perfectly flat metal plat that is dusted with abrasive powder.
Oilstones: The majority of man made and natural sharpening stones are lubricated with light oil. Novaculite, often considered to be the finest oilstones on the market, are only found in Arkansas. This compact silica crystal occurs naturally in different grades. The coarse, dappled-gray Soft Arkansas stone eliminates metal quickly and is used for the preliminary shaping of edged tools. The white Hard Arkansas stone puts the honing angle on the cutting edge, which is then polished and refined with the Black Arkansas stone. Even finer is the uncommon translucent variety.
Man-made oilstones are produced from sintered aluminum oxide or silicon carbide. Classified as fine, medium or coarse, man made sharpening stones are considerably less expensive than their natural counterparts.
Waterstones: As it is comparatively friable and soft, a sharpening stone that is lubricated with water cuts quicker than an equivalent oilstone. Fresh abrasive particles are exposed and released continuously while a meta blade is rubbed across the surface of the waterstone. Yet this soft bond also makes a waterstone vulnerable to unintended damage, particularly when honing thin chisels that could score the surface. Naturally occurring waterstones are so high-priced that most suppliers of tools sell just the artificial types, which are practically as effective.
Diamond Stones: Exceedingly strong fine and coarse grade sharpening 'stones' are produced of nickel plated steel plate that is embedded with monocrystalline diamond particles and bonded to a stiff polycarbonate base. These quick-cutting sharpening tools, offered as slender files and bench stones, can be used dry or lubricated with water. Diamond stones will hone steel and carbide tools.
Metal Lapping Plates: Available as alternatives to traditional sharpening stones, oiled steel or cast-iron plates sprinkled with progressively finer bits of silicon carbide turn out a perfectly flat polished back to a plane or chisel blade and razor-sharp cutting edges. For the ultimate cutting edge on steel tools, finish with diamond-grit compound spread on a flat steel plate. Diamond abrasives are also utilized to grind carbide-tipped tools.
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