Norton Waterstones

Users Guide
A Tool is Only as Good as its Edge
The Norton name is your assurance of getting the finest sharpening product available.

Norton Waterstones A Cleaner, Easier Way to Sharpen Your Tools!

Norton Waterstones Rated the Best Waterstones by Fine Woodworking and Popular Woodworking*
Created by a Norton engineer, who is also a dedicated woodworker and bladesmith, Norton Waterstones combine craftsmanship with the latest abrasive technology to produce a truly superior sharpening system. Norton Waterstones use water for a lubricant and flushing agent. Theyre easier to clean than oilstones, and they wont leave an oil residue on your tools. These fast-cutting stones give you feedback as you work, so its easier to feel and maintain the correct angle as you sharpen versus competitive waterstones.

Using Norton Waterstones

Water as a Lubricant The 220, 1000 and 4000 grit stones need to be filled with water to cut efficiently. Water also flushes away metal particles, preventing the surface of the waterstone from becoming clogged. This keeps a fresh, sharp cutting surface at all times. Immerse the stones in water for 10 minutes prior to use and keep the stone surface wet during sharpening. The 8000 grit polishing stone needs only a splash of water on the surface to cut properly; soaking is not necessary. Maintenance Versus Repair The sharpness of most tools can be maintained with the 4000 and 8000 grit stones. If an edge becomes very dull, it may have to be started on the 1000 grit. A nicked edge may have to start with 220 grit. The key is to start the sharpening process based on the condition of your tool. For Longer Life, Take Care of Your Stones Because waterstones wear faster than oilstones, they need to be periodically flattened or "lapped". You can do this by simply rubbing a water-filled stone on 220 grit waterproof sandpaper on a flat plate glass or machines surface. The 4000 and 8000 grit stones should be finished on 400-600 grit waterproof paper to leave a smoother texture on the stone surface. Waterstones can also be flattened on a diamond stone or lapping bed. Your waterstones should not be allowed to freeze. Water expands when it freezes, and this expansion may cause a saturated stone to crack.

A System That Makes Sense

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CUSTOMER SERVICE U.S. Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc. 2770 W. Washington Street Stephenville, TX 76401 Phone: (254) 918-2306 Fax: (254) 918-2309 CUSTOMER SERVICE CANADA Saint-Gobain Abrasives Canada Inc. 3 Beach Road Hamilton, ON L8L 7Y5 Phone: 905-547-2551 Fax: 905-547-2173

Four stones for the perfect edge

Norton Waterstones are an excellent system for sharpening woodworking tools, knives, cutlery, and other blades. Each stone in the carefully planned grit sequence sharpens efficiently while preparing the tool for the next stone. Youll get the level of abrasiveness you need at each stage, and you wont waste time trying to sharpen your tools on a grit thats too fine too soon. Norton Waterstones cut and resurface quickly, so sharpening and stone maintenance is fast and easy. Use lighter pressure on these stones than on oilstones or other types of Waterstones, to take advantage of the premium abrasive and fast cut rate. Let the stone do the work. Down to the last detail, Norton Waterstones were made with the craftsman in mind. Tight quality control means these stones have a consistent structure and cut rate, so you can achieve the same perfect results time after time. An extra wide surface makes it easier to sharpen wide edges such as plane blades.
* TO READ THE ARTICLES BELOW, PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO THE APPROPRIATE WEB SITE. SHARP & SHARPER JULY/AUGUST 2002 FINE WOODWORKING; SHARPENING PLANES IRONS AND CHISELS APRIL 2003 POPULAR WOODWORKING

form #7437 8/04

Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc. August 2004

Norton Waterstones
Edge Repair
220 The coarsest stone in the series is used to repair large nicks or to change the shape of a blade or to accomplish the initial flattening of the back of the tool. Because it is so porous, it needs to have water splashed on its surface often. 1000 This stone cuts quickly to establish the edge geometry, yet doesnt create deep scratches that would be hard to remove in the next stage. It is the first stone youll need for most new blades to refine the grinding marks left by the manufacturing process.

Sharpening Simplified
Sharpening is a metal removal process that transforms a dull edge into a sharp one. When you use waterstones for sharpening, use a coarse stone for metal removal-to get the edge bevels to meet at a single point. Follow it with finer stones that have been designed as a system to complement each other in the process, you can sharpen a dull tool quickly and efficiently. What is Dull? An edge is dull when it can no longer cut cleanly. As you can see from the photograph, a dull tool has a flattened edge and a jagged profile. Neither of these conditions will allow the tool to cut properly. What is Sharp? By removing the jaggedness and the flattened edge of a dull blade, the two sides of the tool meet at a single point. When this happens along the entire length of the edge, the profile will be smooth and the tool will cut with minimal effort. Preparation After filling your Norton Waterstones with water, place them on a non-skid surface to secure them. If they are not secured, it will be difficult to maintain a consistent sharpening motion and edge bevel angle.

More Than One Correct Angle The most important element in sharpening is not the exact angle that you sharpen at, but the consistency of that angle. It is much more important to hold a consistent angle-one that matches the angle supplied by the manufacturer of the tool-than to worry about holding a particular angle. You can find the correct angle simply by putting the edge bevel of your tool flat against the stone. In most cases the angle will be 25 degrees +/- 5 degrees. Sharp angles cut faster, but have to be sharpened more often. Maintain the Angle Once the edge bevel is flat to the stone surface, concentrate on locking your wrists as you push the tool across the surface of the stone, away from your body. Use gentle pressure and let the stone do the work for you. Norton Waterstones cut fast and do not require as much pressure as oilstones. With each new stroke, remember to keep the edge bevel flat to the stone surface. Chisels/Plane Blades Your final edge will only be as good as the roughest side of the tool, so finish the rough back of a new tool. Both the flat back and the angled edge bevel need to be finished the same. Lap the back to an 8000 grit polish, then sharpen and polish the edge bevel. Knives Knives should be worked equally on both edge bevels. As with blades, your final edge is only as sharp as the roughest side of your edge. Japanese Cutlery Designed for very fine work in cutting sushi, waterstones are highly effective for maintenance of the very sharp 15 degree cutting edge, which is recommended.

tip People use many different motions when using waterstones. If you are having success with the
motion you are using, stick with it. If not, start with a simple, one-direction motion where you push the tool away from your body. Guide the tool back to the starting position, check to be sure that the edge bevel is against the stone, then push away again.

On to the Next Finer Stone The sure sign that it is time to move to the next stone in the system is a "wire" or "burr" edge. A wire edge is the small burr of metal that is formed when the two edge bevels have been sharpened to meet at a single point. This will appear on the side of the edge that is away from the stone surface. You can feel it by running your fingernail from the back of the tool toward the edge. If the wire edge is there, your fingernail will catch it.
size the wire edge will change depending on tip Thestoneofyou are using. The coarser the stone, the the larger the wire edge.

Edge Maintenance
4000 The 4000 grit is a unique sharpening stone. Although its a fine grit, it is designed to cutnot polish. It leaves a refined edge that can be brought to a mirror finish quickly on the 8000 grit stone. Use the 4000 grit stone before the final polishing, for a more consistent, longer lasting edge. 8000 The 8000 grit has been designed to give a non-slippery, controlled feel to this important step. When used in conjunction with the 4000 grit stone, it creates a polished, long-lasting edge in a very short time. Mirror finishes that were once hard to achieve are at your fingertips.

Removing the Wire Edge If the wire edge is left on the tool, you will be cutting with a very weak peel of metal that will quickly break off or round over-not the ideal edge. Norton Waterstones are designed to remove this burr for you. Simply follow the same sharpening motion you have been using, but on the next finer stone in the set. If you are on the 4000 grit stone, the burr will be very small and will polish off on the 8000.
of tip Do notorbreak the wire edge off on aapiecespotwood, cork, other surface. This leaves flat on the edge-exactly what you are trying to correct by sharpening.

COMPLETE SHARPENING GUIDE AT: 25X MAGNIFICATION

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