Recent content by feds27

Tip: In case you go for a combo stone, check on whether you can soak the whole stone or if you need to soak only the 1k side. Some combo stones only need the lower grit to be soaked. Soaking a whole stone may cause the higher grit to fall apart if it's not meant to be soaked.

Is it safe to say that for regular maintenance of softer steels (German, Swiss steels HRC 59 and lower?) one can use a polished steel to maintain the edge without damaging the edge? And for regular maintenance of harder steels (Japanese steels HRC 60 like VG-10 and higher) stropping is...

I was wondering if many members use the polished type of honing steels/rods like the Victorinox Polished or F Dick Packing House Steel. It sounds like most members are using ceramic sharpening types of rods. Is there a reason for this? Is it because of a lack of time to hit the water stones...

I forgot to mention, with the Norton 8000 I noticed it would get a gummy feeling and sometimes load/clog easily. This doesn't happen with the Ohishi, they cut without clogging. I use a nagura on stones 3000 and greater to work up a mud. They also work fine without a nagura but take a little more...

I recently switched to Ohishi having used Norton's previously. My previous stones were the Norton 220/1000/8000. I didn't find them (the Norton's) to be that bad but the 220 did feel very gritty/scratchy as did the 1000. The 8000 felt buttery smooth but felt very soft and seemed to wear quickly...