Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 5:06 am
I’ve never owned a “water stone” specifically made for use with water.
catspa wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 2:10 pm
Ken, the (inexpensive) waterstones I have are quite a bit softer than my carborundum, India, etc.
As to waterstones, Ken, if you have an opportunity to buy/try one I would recommend you give it a go.
As Parker says, they are a soft stone but they get harder as you get to the finer grit and then they are still comparatively soft as to carborundum stones. As your blade gets sharper you can cut them slightly, if you get the edge into the stone.
They cut much faster than earthstones and carborundum stones but the trade off is that they are soft.
I have 800, 1200, and 8000 grit. (I initially bought these for my woodworking chisels.) I have used these stones for years. The 800 is quite noticeably dished but the 1200 needs a straight edge to reveal how minimally it is dished and the 8000 is not dished at all.
I like them. I use mine under running water as well and I don't soak them. They are a great tool.
For me, they have taken second place to the diamond stone.