Have new set of Norton combination waterstones. Tap water in our local is full of minerals and not fit to use on these stones.
I plan to use bottled water for this purpose, since I understand it is has been filtered to remove harmful chemicals.
Your thoughts.
Replies
If you are concerned, distilled water runs less than $1 a gallon at most any store.
I prefer instant water because it takes up less space and never goes bad, when you are ready to sharpen just add distilled water to it and you are ready to go. If you can't find this prduct in your area let me know and I can sell you some at a reasonable price. Shipping costs are very low, I can ship you a lifetime supply for less than a dollar in freight costs.
................................................
Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
~ Denis Diderot
I might be interested in your product. Is it certified "green"? (no pun intended)
Ben,
don's dehydrated water is selected from prime Amazon forest rainwater, collected mid-shower (the first drops often contain airborne particulates). This is triple- filtered thru Argentinian organically grown pampas grass mats before passing thru solar dehydrators. Less well known is the Japanese brand of soft water that is best used to re-hydrate the solar kiln dried pampas water. The Japanese water is collected off the silk-- spun by contented organically fed silkworms-- fabric wings of windsurfers, from clouds that condense above Mt Fuji, so it is volcanically distilled. Even so, theory has it that it contains beneficial properties related to the exhalations of the master smiths working the samurai sword forges that dot the slopes of Fuji. Hard to quantify, it is said that the breath of a master blade maker can enhance the polishing properties of the right waterstone, that is, one that was sustainably mined, and when sharpening the right steel, ie, folded laminations of recycled Toyota sheet metal (the highly sought-after Fenda-moto steel).
Ray
I produce a lot of water just like at least one of your descriptions every morning Ray; I think it is the gushing Amazonian variety, for the Japanese stuff seems a bit prissy and involved to me. Usually I flush it away, but I think I'll start bottling it and selling it. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture
Richard,
Don't tell anyone, but I am developing a new system for storage of sharpening gimcracks and gewgaws. I think I can get fairly large quantities of manure from a local dairy farm, into which said jigs, holders, adhesives, lubricants, etc can kept submerged. When retreived for a sharpening session, they will be fully charged with even more BS than when they were new.
Ray
This ought to be copied and posted on every woodworking forum on the 'net.
I haven't laughed this hard in a long time.
Is that you there, Charles, I see before me, lurking in the shadows?
Out , danged Spot, let us see the colour of your clothes.
(Adapted from Shakespeare that I didn't learn at school)
Oilstone, my foot.....Philip Marcou
Philip
I couldn't believe what I was readig when I saw this thread.....Can you believe someone would post this, seriously????
You should just sell him a lifetime supply of pre-sharpened blades. Everytime one gets dull, just discard and insert new blade. That's another free marketing tip from me to you.........lol.
Say "hello" to Chuckie for me, too. Tell him not to slip on the oilstone. With so many personalities in the woodshop, it's a wonder he has any room for wood and tools.
Jeff
Serious post. Had read somewhere that high mineral content was not good for waterstones.....especially the 8000 grit Norton stone. Norton does not include any information with the stones.
Figured as many of the stones as are in use, good info in this area was available.
Thanks for your input.
I believe if the original poster were to look here http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/10886he or she would find the perfect solution! Man this stuff is funny!Chris
What is the expression Ray? It's something like 'Action walks and BS talks'.
I have to agree there's always a lot of flannel and BS comes to the surface when sharpening discussions really get going.
As ever, I remain a 'Sharp'n'Go' type myself. I like the job to be as simple as it needs to be, but no simpler, to paraphrase, I think, Einstein. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture
Richard,
Yesterday, I sharpened a plane iron, and a chisel. Still had some time left in the day to get a little work done. Sounds crazy, I know, but it's true.
Ray
Are you saying you were in the workshop from about 6.30 am until close to 10 pm Ray-- and not even a lunch break, nor time to go for a pint afterwards? Ha, ha-- ha, ha, ha. Slainte.Richard Jones Furniture
Hah, not at all, Richard, not at all. I prefer bankers' hours, at this point in life. Amazing, just amazing what you can get done if you're properly motivated. Who knows, I might not be able to get to sleep without my nightcap.
Cheers,
Ray
I'm sure the OP was serious, and I, too, couldn't believe the title of the thread. I'm sure he's hiding under a pure-mineral rock right now. There may just be visible-size minerals in his water, like most of you down in the boonies have. You just didn't know it because your heads are so swollen your eyes squint. If you can't see them, I sell a product that improves vision. It's called GTGAB - give-the-guy-a-break. He's a fellow woodworker and wants to be at his best. Time on task usually corrects incorrect assumptions. Hopefully he's laughing at all the responses.
I am quite sure he is laughing.I hope so because if he took us seriously then he would be weeping-and , dang, that is salt water.....not good , not good, serious rust pollution as well.
On the other hand one should acknowledge that the op is undoubtedly a diligent guy who wants to do the best by all means.Philip Marcou
No no, man, you have that quite wrong: you are confusing it with a method popular amongst Rasp Sharpening Fraternity (Raspaferians) for refurbishing blunt rasps. (Er, chemical reaction of some sort, I believe))Philip Marcou
Edited 10/15/2008 12:58 am by philip
philip,
I thought the rasp sharpening solution was a wee(heh,heh) bit different.
Ray
Ray, Richard & philip (with one l),
I'm surprised at you folks. Here you guys are slinging all this BS about water.
Real waterstone sharpeners know that the best is horse urine. If your timing is right you can just use your stones under the horse early in the mornin....
I'll admit it can git a bit testy chasin them horses around the paduck as it's easy to get yo foot caught in a flop or three but the added benefit of the exercise is worth the effort.
Now cut all the BS, try some real HS for storin your stones and Bobs your uncle. OH, and in case your wonderin I have a fresh supply of Granit Flakes to go with the HS.
Regards,
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Your suggestion is great, but isn't it essential to make sure the instant water was made from distilled water in the first place? Otherwise, contaminants could reappear upon re-constitution, I'd think. ;-)
Next time you go to church put a bit extra in the collection plate and ask the minister for some Holy Water. Guarantied to give you an "Oh my God that's sharp!" edge every time.
Best tip I've heard yet!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
jphelps
two thoughts:
1. your waterstone being composed entirely of minerals, the amount of minerals in the tap water are insignificant and likely have no impact on the mechanical act of sharpening.
2. most bottled water, other than distilled, has minerals added back into it after filtering in order to improve the taste.
Make sure it doesn't have any dihydrogen monoxide in it.
Harmful chemicals is marketing speak for off-flavours. Bottled waters vary from highly mineralised to near-distilled.
The problem that could arise is that as water evaporates from the stone the salts left behind could clog the pores of a fine stone.
Look at the labels on the bottled water. You want the one with the lowest TDS (Total Dissolved Solids). The tie breaker should be the one with the lowest Calcium + Magnesium (Ca and Mg) content.
If you have an airconditioner the water it discharges would be great.
With stones that need to remain submerged in water - thise I add chemical to. Such as a little disinfectant to keep the algae at bay. And then a little soft soap when I spritz the stones for lubrication.
Regards from Perth
Derek
My thoughts?
May the good Lord preserve us....
Ah come on Mr. P. Just think of the marketing you could do. Pure water from the glaciers of NZ for one's sharpening stones. I think you could make a bundle.
And besides, you would at least initially provide the boys in customs with a chuckle the first few cases. And you could laugh all the way to the bank. It's a win-win for all concerned.
Take care, Mike
Ah beleeve you are onto it: "Prehistoric Recycled Precipitation". Get yours now....Philip Marcou
If you posted this on Woodnet you would probably get ten or fifteen serious answers.
And on Woodnet multi aliases are banned.Philip Marcou
Tap water in our local is full of minerals and not fit to use on these stones
OK, assuming you're serious, what makes you think this? The water only serves to lubricate the sharpening and wash away the swarf. 'hard to imagine that any potable water wouldn't be just fine.
Yes, since those are man-made stones then one can safely assume that man-made water would be suitable for use on them..... (;)Philip Marcou
Mr. Phelps,
For the moment I'll assume you are serious with your question.
Water doesn't have to have many minerals in it to be considered high mineral content for drinking. In the days of people drawing water from wells and springs, they had no options for treatment other than let undissolved solids to settle to the bottom. If you can't see particles in the water, your stones will be fine. Use what water you got. Chlorine, fluoride, and any other treatment is OK. Save your money for tools.
Greg
•••••••
Exo 35:30-35
Water?
Glendronach 25yo 1968/1993 (43%, OB, 100% Sherry)
Sorry I had to!
Not bad for the coarser stones, but for fine grits I prefer a lowland from a refill bourbon cask.
Edited 10/20/2008 1:29 pm ET by poplarguy
Everclear and rainwater is all I use when I turn to the waterstones.Once the slurry builds up, you can drink it when you're done sharpening. It's basically just like taking an iron pill, a vitamin, and a laxative all at once.Erm,...not recommended for operating heavy machinery,...
I have just been reading the latest copy of FWW. Guess what is in it as a readers tip? ... yes, someone recommending bottled water to improve the performance of waterstones! And you wonder where this stuff comes from.
Where lies the responsibility of the editorial staff to publish such material ? .... without a rejoinder.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Edited 10/19/2008 12:58 am ET by derekcohen
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