Woodworker's Journal 1993-17-4, страница 27
Ceramic benchstones are a relatively new addition to the world of sharpening stones. Slips, rods, and files are also available. s | jH You can use silicon carbide powders in various grits for resurfacing stones, lapping chisels and plane irons; Leather strop I right) and honing compound I bottom right) put the final razor edge on cutting tools. on ihe pressure. (When using fine-grit slones. an oil lubricant or liquid dishwashing detergent will help buffer the culling action, producing a finer edge. I Although diamond stones are more expensive than other stones, they should last a lifetime. Ceramic Stones Most of us are familiar with these slones as small rods, files, or slips used for sharpening knives and fish hooks. More recently, lull-size ceramic benchstones have appeared on the market. Also called alumina-ceramic stones, ceramic stones consist of aluminum oxide abrasives fused in a while ceramic (i.e. glass) matrix. This makes for an extremely dense, last-cutting stone with excellent wear characteristics. They are brittle, so avoid dropping ihem off the bench! These exceptionally dense stones arc limited to finer grits only, designated medium (800 grit), fine (1,200 grit), and ultra-fine (1.8(H) grit). A fine ceramic stone is roughly equiv alent to a hard black Arkansas: an ultra-fine ceramic to an 8.00()-grii gold waterstone (various sharpening experts will debate which of the latter two actually provides ihe finest edge). Usually, you use these atones without ihe aid of an oil or w ater lubricant, which makes them a clean stone to work w ith. The lack of lubricant, combined with a fast cutting action, causes the stones lo clog quickly. However, they're easily-cleaned with water and an abrasive cleanser, such as Comet, applied with a non-woven plastic (Scotclibrite) scouring pad. You can also use ceramic slones for touching up carbide edges, although it lakes a bit longer than with a fine diamond stone. Price-w ise. ceramic stones are on a par wiih waterstones or synthetic oil stones. Useful Accessories A good set of benchstones isn't cheap, so you'll want lo protect that investment, Benchstones are typically stored in a wooden box with a tight-filling lid to keep them from becoming contaminated and to protect them against shock. The box also serv es as a stone holder while sharpening: rubber feet or pins on the underside of the box help keep the stone from skittering around the bench. Most catalog suppliers sell boxes for the stone sizes they carry. Slips and files should be stored in individual pouches, boxes, or other protective containers. Lapping kiis can not only be used to flatten oil stones and w aterstones. but are also used to lap the backside of chisels and plane irons. The kits include bottles of silicon carbide abrasive powders in various grits and sometimes a plate-glass or steel lapping table. Leather strops are used to polish a honed edge on knives and similar culling tools alter sharpening with your finest grit stone. Soft leather strops are used w ith or without fine abrasive honing compounds for initial stropping; final stropping is done 011 a hard leather strop. The strops shown are handy items for any woodshop. Leather power strops and cloth buffing wheels are also available for quick polishing of shaped cutlers, such as lathe um>Is. c3j Sources The following sources carry one or more of the items featured in this article. Conslanline's 2050 Eastchester Road Bronx, NY 10461 Tel. 1-800-223-8087 Diamond Machine Technology (DMT) 85 Hayes Memorial Drive Marlborough, MA 01752-1892 Tel (508) 481-5944 Garrett-Wade 161 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10013-1299 Tel. 1-800-221-2942 Highland Hardware 1045 North Highland Ave. N.E. Atlanta, GA 30306 Tel. 1-800-241-6748 Trend-lines 375 Beacham St Chelsea. MA 02150 Tel. 1-800 877-7899 Veritas Tools 12 E. River St. Qgdensburg. NY 13669-1720 Tel. 1-800 667-2986 Woodcraft 210 Wood County industrial Park P.O Box 1686 Parkersburg. WV 26102-1686 Tel 1-800-225-1153 Woodworker's Supply. Inc. 1108 North Glenn Road Casper. WY 82601 Tel. 1-800-645-9292 July/August IW1 11 |
