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My 'stone' comes ground up, adhered to a paper backing. I use it by sprinking a little water on it to get it to stick to a piece of aluminum plate

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Shapton stones will put the finest edge on your tools that you can get. Because of the cost however, I use the scary sharp method. At the school I teach at however, we use the shaptons...

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Mitch

Actually the old Shapton M15 Series (on wooden base, avaliable
from Japanesetools.com and Hidatool.com) are very, very good:
More feedback than the Pro series, and a much better value
than the Glassstones, which are only 5mm useable thickness.
I especially like the 2k as a medium stone, and the 5k as a finish
stone (yes!) for chisels and sometimes planes, though I usually
finish with a natural stone for planing. YMMV...

I keep thinking about picking up the Norton 4k/8k, but I'd probably
like it, and that'd mess everything up...

BTW: If anyone has a Norton 4000 for sale or trade (can I say this?),
let me know. Carey.

I use a Norton 1,000 and a combo Norton 4,000/8,000 and get hair popping results.

In fact I am known to sit with a tray in front of my TV late at night watching the primary returns while sharpening my chisels and plane blades to a devilish edge......

I know, I know - what a nut case......

Hesh, that is really sick . . . and dangerous. I wouldn't want to have a razor edge tool around when I watch primary results.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

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It's not the miles ahead, it's the stone in your shoe


In Markham,Virginia

I use the King waterstones from Lee Valley. The 1000, 4000 and 8000. I have not tried any others, but am very happy with the sharpness and mirror finish I get with them. I use the Norton? flattening stone with them.

I use sandpaper and a granite plate - .0001" flat and very cheap to use. You can also use plate glass. If you want to use water stones be sure to get a diamond plate to keep them flat.

I too use shapton and love them.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Okay this may sound pretty ignorant, but I wonder since I haven't tried it: How do you keep from cutting through the paper when you use it?

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.