How to use sharpening stone

How to attach stone to blank. How to prepare stone How to select grain sizes of sharpening stones Which stone to select: diamond sharpening stone or cbn sharpening stone

Recommended selections of sharpening stones

Diamond stones, resin bond, grain sizes in microns

Recommended set # 1:

  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 3/2 - polishing.

Recommended set # 2:

  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 3/2 - polishing.
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 1/0 - fine polishing.
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 0.25 / 0 - the finest polishing.

Recommended set # 3:

  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 63/50 - semi-finishing
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 28/20 - fine sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 3/2 - polishing.

 Recommended set # 4:

  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 63/50 - semi-finishing
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 28/20 - fine sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 5/3 - polishing
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 2/1 - fine polishing.
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 0.5 / 0 - the finest polishing.

Recommended set # 5:

  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping

 Recommended set # 6:

  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 63/50 - semi-finishing
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 28/20 - fine sharpening
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
  Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping

 

Recommended set of 6 diamond stones, metal bond, grain size in microns::

    Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 160/125 - rough sharpening
   Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 80/63 - semi-finishing
   Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100% ,grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
   Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
   Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 10/7 - the finest lapping
   Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 5/3 - polishing.


Recomended sets of  CBN stones with resin (phenol-formaldehyde) and metal (copper-tin) bonds,
grain size in microns:

        Recommended set # 1:

   CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 10/7 - the finest finishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 5/3   - polishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 2/1  - fine polishing.

Recommended set # 2:

   CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 20/14   - fine lapping
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 10/7 - the finest finishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 5/3   - polishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 2/1   - fine polishing.
 CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 0.5 / 0 - the finest polishing.

Recommended set # 3:

   CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size  20/14   - fine lapping
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 7/5   - the finest finishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 3/2   - polishing

Recommended set # 4:

   CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 20/14   - fine lapping
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond 7/5 grain size - the finest finishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond 3/2 grain size - polishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 1/0  - fine polishing.

Recommended set # 5:

  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
  CBN stone 150х25х3, metal bond, , grain size 63/50 - semi-finish sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 28/20 - fine finishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 7/5 - the finest finishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 3/2 - polishing.

Recommended set # 6:

   CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
  CBN stone 150х25х3, metal bond, grain size 63/50 - semi-finish sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 28/20 - fine finishing
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond 7/5 grain size - the finest finishing

Recommended set # 7:

  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
  CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 10/7 - the finest finishing

Common issues 
  • Abrasive grains are covered with bond after sintering, so you may need to remove the layer of a bond to open abrasive grains. 
  • Fine grain sizes (below 5/3 micron) may form aggregates which  leave scratches. So you may need to dress these stones more frequently to remove aggregates out of the bond. We guarantee no aggregates for grain sizes 2/1 micron and coarser. 
  • Edges of abrasive layer may appear too sharp after sintering, so you may need to flatten them. 
Preparation before the first use

Stones with grits finer 3 microns either require preparation (dressing) with Silicium Carbide powders (SiC), or they will be self-polished after sharpening of 30-50 knives. Then they will be of gold color and work well. 
For dressing you  need flat (glass or cast iron) plate  and set of SiC powders. The table below shows 2 grits for dressing, but you may use 3 or more to increase productivity. SiC grits were selected from widely available on the market, but the general rule is: starting grit is twice higher than stone's grit, finishing grit - the same as stone's grit. For example for 0.5/0 stone these are F400, F800 and F1200. 

Selection of SiC powders for  dressing  of sharpening stones

StoneStarting gritFinishing grit
500/400 μ = 35/40= D501F16 (1230 μ)F24 (745 μ)
400/315 μ = 40/45= D426F16 (1230 μ)F46 (370 μ)
315/250 μ = 50/60= D301 F24 (745 μ)F46 (370 μ)
250/200 μ = 60/70= D251F24 (745 μ)F60 (260 μ)
200/160 μ = 70/80= D213F36 (525 μ)F60 (260 μ)
160/125 μ = 100/120= D151 F46 (370 μ)F80 (180 μ)
125/100 μ = 120/140= D126  F60 (260 μ)F100 (129 μ)
100/80 μ = 140/170= D107F60 (260 μ)F120 (109 μ)
 80/63 μ = 170/200= D91  F80 (180 μ)F150 (82 μ)
63/50 μ = 230/270= D64 F100 (129 μ)F180 (69 μ)
50/40 μ = 270/325= D54  F120 (109 μ)F220 (58 μ)
40/28 μ = 550= M40F150 (82 μ)F240 (46 μ)
28/20 μ = 650= M25  F180 (69 μ)F320 (30 μ)
20/14 μ = 1100= M20F240 (46 μ)F400 (18 μ)
14/10 μ = 1500= M16  F320 (30 μ)F400 (18 μ)
10/7 μ = 1700= M10F400 (18 μ)F600 (10 μ)
7/5 μ = 3000= M6.3  F600 (10 μ)F800 (6,7 μ)
5/3 μ = 4000= M4F600 (10 μ)F800 (6,7 μ)
3/2 μ = 6000= M1.5F800 (6,7 μ)F1200 (3 μ)
2/1 μ = 10000F800 (6,7 μ)F1200 (3 μ)
1/0 μ   F800 (6,7 μ)F1200 (3 μ)
0.5/0 μ   F800 (6,7 μ)F1200 (3 μ)


Also  use  method with 
CBN pastes on 3 iron plates. One iron plate for each grit size set (60/40 and 28/20, 14/10 and 7/5, 3/2 and 1/0), total working time 1 hour. This method is more expensive, but more effective.

If you have no previous experience with preparation, better leave this job to professionals. We stopped preparing stones because of war.  

How to attach stone to blank.
Metal bond stone  may be used without blank, but if you need more rigid surface or to maintain the same thickness of stones in the set (which is very convenient), attach to stone aluminum blank:
 - attach marked area to blank (marked area is "damaged" with letters);
- use double sided tape, so you can easily remove and service stone with time if needed.  
- if there's no such tape on sale (70 mm width), attach tape 25 mm width  three times;
- attach tape to stone first, then to blank.

Use and cleaning
Use any comfortable oil (baby, olive..) to prevent glazing. And your sharpening stone would not glaze.
But if it glazed - clean with alcohol and toothbrush.

Maintenance is only needed every year or two, when you may need to flatten stone. 
Resin and combined bond stones may be flattened with SiC powders.
Metal bond stones may be flattened also with FeCl (Ferric chloride), although SiC is OK too:
- 20 mins setting in 25% mixture (25 gr FeCl per 75 gr of water),
- few minutes polish movements (carefully draw "8") on glass plate.  

That's all, you do not need special chemicals, tools, or equipment, see the video. 

Presentation of CBN sharpening stones, combined bond and how to prepare them for the first use.

Knife sharpening with CBN combined bond stones



Sharpening with Poltava diamond and CBN stones

Continue