Sharpening Station Helper

[Rob Luter]

Silicone mat with a rim in three sizes. Reasonable price too. I'm thinking it will make a good mess saver for my sharpening station. Once received I'll post my impressions.

https://www.amazon.com/DogBuddy-Silicone-Placemat-Washable-Waterproof/dp/B07LDXZ1WG/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=silicone%2Btray&qid=1608588255&sr=8-3&th=1

[Winston Chang]

I tried using a mat like that, but I found that the stones would slide around on it when wet. I ended up getting one with raised ribs made by OXO, and it's been working well for me.

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[Jim Koepke]

Mine has been in use for more than a decade.

It was sold at Target as an automobile floor mat.

The image at Amazon shows it being washed in a sink. For use with water stones that may not be the best place to clean a mat. The swarf could cause a problem with the plumbing.

jtk

[Rob Luter]

I tried using a mat like that, but I found that the stones would slide around on it when wet. I ended up getting one with raised ribs made by OXO, and it's been working well for me.

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That looks like a good bet too. Where did you find it?

[David Bassett]

Some more ideas to consider, (the alternatives may fit someone's space or preference better.)

Christopher Schwarz uses and recommends an Ikea Boot Tray. I'm sure you can search the blog at Lost Art Press and find specifics.

Yoav Liberman had a article on Pop Wood's website, Inexpensive Mat for Your Wet Sharpening Needs (https://www.popularwoodworking.com/tools/inexpensive-liner-for-your-wet-sharpening-needs/), suggesting Munchkin Silicone Placemats for Kids (https://smile.amazon.com/Munchkin-Silicone-Placemats-Kids-Purple/dp/B07L4DHXTT/) for this purpose.

Haven't tried either of these, yet at least, I picked up the silicone mat Woodcraft introduced a while back and have been using it. (But even at the intro price it wasn't as good a deal as some of these suggestions.)

[Winston Chang]

That looks like a good bet too. Where did you find it?

I got it from Target, though it appears to be available from Amazon as well. I think there may be old and new versions that have slightly different rib patterns, but I think they should work the same.

https://www.target.com/p/oxo-silicone-dish-drying-mat-gray-large/-/A-13291919
https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Large-Silicone-Drying/dp/B004ZLAG54

There are also some similar generic drying mats available on Amazon. If you decide to go that route, I suggest making sure that the ribs aren't too tall or thin -- if they are, the stone may shift back and forth as you move the blade back and forth on it. The OXO drying mat has relatively thick ribs, so this isn't really an issue with that mat.

[Michael J Evans]

The good old dollar tree has varieties of mats for.... $1
I just picked up what is supposed to be a entry way mat ( I think) it's only like 24"l x like 15" wide. Has a semi sticky bottom and rough short carpeted top. Thinking it'll work perfect for my oil stones and the price was right!

[Ben Ellenberger]

That’s a good idea! I’ll be interested in hearing what you think after you try it. I have my diamond stones set into a piece of plywood, but I still get a bit of a mess on my sharpening bench.

[Andrew Seemann]

A tray to keep the water and swarth off the bench, that is a good idea. Probably better than my put the stone on the Formica top and brace it against the Tormek method :)

[Tom Beltran]

I use old time school cafeteria trays. With a piece of rubber shelf liner, there is no sliding around. I have a few, and one is attached to a piece of plywood, with a 2 X 2 under it so it can be held in a vice. It works great. Tom

[Bob Jones 5443]

I use a Dycem mat:

https://www.amazon.com/Dycem-Non-Slip-Mat-Small-Rectangle/dp/B00294OJ1G

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/615miPvDODL._AC_SL1200_.jpg


Sorry for the gargantuan photo size. This mat works well enough: waterproof and if the waterstones aren't dripping wet on the bottom, they don't slide.

But I'm intrigued by the little rim around the edge of the Dog Buddy, so let us know how it works, Rob!

[Rob Luter]

A tray to keep the water and swarth off the bench, that is a good idea. Probably better than my put the stone on the Formica top and brace it against the Tormek method :)

Yup. That's the intent. I expect I'll lay a sheet of shelf liner on the bottom to enhance the non-skid aspect and keep the stones out of the mess. The main goal is to preserve the melamine table top.

[Derek Cohen]

Also look at rubber pavers. Very cheap. I purchased one (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/312876033887)- they can be quite large - and cut it to fit my sharpening bench. One side is coarser, and that is perfect for preventing anything sliding on it.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Tom M King]

My sharpening center helper is a 92" long stainless steel sink, which is really mostly drainboard, with a small sink at one end. It has three faucets, and a small water heater. It's also portable, and gets moved from one old house job, to the next. It gets used for other things besides sharpening too. No trap, and drains to a pile of sawdust outside.

[Bill Carey]

My diamond stones are let in to an old HDPE cutting board and I wipe the Krud Cutter and swarf off them often so I don't need a mat under them.

[Derek Cohen]

The rubber paver on my draining board ...

https://i.postimg.cc/0NNBz8yx/1.jpg

Close up ...

https://i.postimg.cc/W3BWYg6b/4.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Rob Luter]

That looks like a nice setup Derek. I wish I had a sink it my shop area. It would simplify things. That's one of the reasons I went with the Shapton stones. Just a spritz will take care of them.

[Mike Allen1010]

The rubber paver on my draining board ...

https://i.postimg.cc/0NNBz8yx/1.jpg

Close up ...

https://i.postimg.cc/W3BWYg6b/4.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

Shop Sink- I'm sooo jealous!

[Rob Luter]

The brown truck showed up today with a couple treats. The silicone matt will work out great. It's pretty grippy but I still lined the bottom with a a bit of non skid shelf lined to keep everything out of the wet. It has a 5/8" tall rim and I'm guessing will hold a quart of liquid if need be. My 6K Shapton showed up too and it makes a good fit between the 1000 grit diamond and the 16K Shapton. I won't need to use the 1000 grit much unless I need to fully restore a bevel. I got inspired and sharpened everything in my shop I hadn't already done. I need to start a new project.


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[Tim Andrews]

Rob, that’s a nice looking setup. Is that the tray you mentioned in your first post? What size did you get? Do the stones stay in place without too much movement?

I’m assuming that you are following Rob Cosman’s sharpening recommendations based on the Diamond and Shapton stones you have. I finally decided to ditch my 3M films and ordered the exact same stones that you have based on his videos, should be here next week. After I placed my order, Rob called me personally to thank me, now that’s impressive!

[Nathan Johnson]

I went with mdf covered by shelf liner and poplar. When it gets too gross I'll make a new one.
(Just imagine it's right side up. Picture fail.)

[Rob Luter]

Happy New Year Tim -

That's the Silicone tray I linked to in the first post. It's the small version (19 x 12). It's pretty grippy but I still lined the bottom with a a bit of non skid shelf liner to keep everything out of the wet.

I recently adopted the Cosman method (link to that post here (https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?287898-Cosman-Sharpening-Method-Thoughts)) after using glass blocks and 3M film for years. I did add an intermediate stone between the 1000 and 16K as he discussed in the video, but went with a 6K instead of a 4K he suggested. I find the 1000 grit is overkill for the initial work unless the edge is totally shot.

Since these showed up I've sharpened every edge tool I have. I have a mix of A2, O1, and PM-V11. I'm a believer. The process goes really quick and edge quality is excellent. I have been finishing with a few strokes on a Horse Butt strop charged with a little Flexcut Gold compound.

[William Fretwell]

Wanted some weight under the rubber mat and a good height. Granite on substantial poplar legs, it does not move.
The granite is supported on 3 contact points, the underside edge has a silicone bead of calk to act as a drip edge. The drawer has honing compound, bandaids etc. The ridged rubber mat is simple and stops slip.
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