Replies

1. 
   BrentS | Apr 06, 2005 09:54pm | #1

   Lee Valley sells King waterstones which are recommended by David Charlesworth.The Norton stones may last a little longer between flattenings,but for a hobbiest it really doesn't make that big a difference.

                                                                                            Brent

2. 
   BrentS | Apr 07, 2005 12:26am | #2

   Probably longer than 10 seconds,but that's why I said for the hobbiest it makes no real difference

3. 
   TomB | Apr 07, 2005 04:34am | #3

   Have used LV water stones for years and love them. Have not used the Norton but You can't beat the LV price. They are also great people to deal with.Give them a try, you wont be disappointed. I have the 1000, 4000, and 8000 stones.

1. 
   mvac | Apr 07, 2005 07:05pm | #4

   I just want to make sure I'm understanding what people are buying for how much - When you say you're buying the LV stones and they're a lot cheaper than the Nortons, you're not talking about King stones, right? If I could buy King stones for less than Nortons (although I'm very satisfied with the Nortons), I'd certainly buy at least one for comparison. But I'm getting the sense that there are King-branded stones sold by LV, and LV-branded stones.

   I looked at the site, and can't tell. A search for "waterstones" turned up 20 hits, but none were branded either King or LV.

   Any clarification would be great.

   Thanks,Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

1. 
   TomB | Apr 08, 2005 02:54am | #5

   Its been a few years since I bought stones. The stones that LV sells were always king and I assume that that is what they still sell. You must remember that stones from LV are priced in Canadian funds and stones fron Garret Wade are in US funds. I do not know anywhere else to get them. Computers have opened up a world to us and I never needed to get my stones elswhere. But most of all it should be fun and not a Job.

   good lock Tom Brown

    

1. 
   MPHarper | Apr 08, 2005 11:13am | #7

   Here is alink to a website that sells some really nice waterstones for a good price:

   http://www.japanwoodworker.com

   I've been happy with their stones and they are as cheap or cheaper than LV or Norton Stones.

4. 
   TomS | Apr 08, 2005 03:14am | #6

   A couple of years ago FWW did an article comparing the various sharpening systems available.  The choice of the author was Norton waterstones and diamond paste on hard maple when there was a need for that extra touch.  At the time I was just investing in Sandpaper Sharpening and never followed up on the waterstones but it was an interesting article.

   Tom

1. 
   arw01 | Apr 17, 2005 06:23am | #9

   I used scrary sharp for a while, thought I was pretty sharp. Then I bit the bullet and bought a 1000,5000,8000 shaptons from Joel at Tools for Working wood.WOWEE, WAY sharper. Impressed the hell out of a nearly professional archery hunter I work with (used to be a guide in his early 30's). I have to say the shaptons are very fast, and man do they put an edge on.Cost way more than the LV's, but I figure they will last me a lifetime, which I figure is about 50 more years of woodworking.Alan

5. 
   dude | Apr 08, 2005 11:35am | #8

   I bought    the Lee Valley water stones inc the water bath kit , The stones i got were Japanese  and seem to work fine  ,remember you have 3 months to like what you bought or send it back . ps they have a us outlet in Ogdensberg NY and their web site will give you  the price in US $

6. 
   Peter36 | Apr 17, 2005 07:48am | #10

   Hi Tony. I had the LV stones [I think that they are kings as well]. I liked them very much until I tried the Nortons. The Nortons cut much faster and seem to be less messy. The only thing that I don't like about the Nortons is the 4000 stone wears unbelievably fast, although I only use it on the initial flattening of a chisel back. The LV stones where all on bases and although they where well over a year old the store took them back because they where starting to separate from the base. This meant that they where not staying flat. Naturally I bought the Nortons but if I where purchasing again I would at least try the Shaptons.               Peter

1. 
   woodworker418 | Apr 17, 2005 05:42pm | #11

   thanks peter for the information.  i actually went ahead late this week and picked up a set of the shaptons, along with some duosharps, the idea being that i can use the duo sharps to get the bevel set and fairly sharp as well as for flattening the shaptons (x-coarse only for this), and then turn to the shaptons for honing (5,000 and 8,000 grit).  so far i've only used the shaptons on 3 chisels but have been very pleased with the results, extremely fast (like a minute or so on each stone, max), very sharp (at least for my skill level, which isn't high, but no problem shaving arm hair) and no perceptible change in flatness using an old starrett straight edge.  so so far so good!  thx. again, tony.