Replies

1. 
   AlanTurner | Aug 13, 2002 02:46am | #1

   I use a diamond stone to flatten my waterstones.  Only takes a sec.  Good luck.

2. 
   Alan | Aug 13, 2002 05:10am | #2

   Jay,

   I got one of those ceramic flattening "bricks" for my water stones.  It works great; and after several years of use it has shown no wear and is still flat.

   Prior to getting the ceramic gizmo I used wet and dry paper on plate glass.  Being lazy, as I am,  that was a poor choice:  I found it so much trouble I didn't flatten my stones nearly often enough.  With the ceramic thing I don't hesitate to flatten my stones.  My soft stones (coarse) I now flatten them every fifteen or twenty minutes as I work.

   There's no need to spend a lot of money though.  I have a friend who flattens his stones on a concrete block--just a plain gray block.  I've heard of people using their concrete garage floor and a sidewalk (though I don't know how, or if, these people determined those surfaces were flat).

   Alan

3. 
   ScottDoten | Aug 14, 2002 07:54am | #3

   Jay,

   I would recommend going out and purchasing a Ceramic Flattening Stone (CFS).   The only draw back to the CFS is they are costly.  On the positive side, the CFS will flatten a water stone very easily and can be left in the water with your other non-polishing water stones (assuming no freezing conditions).

   Now if in the future you see yourself purchasing a Diamond Stone then you will not need a CFS.    

   MSD