Best sharpening table surface?

[Mike Allen1010]

I’m replacing my 40 year old rotting sharpening table with something,I hope more appropriate for the job. I use water stones, so given the typically wet environment, what is the best table top material?

Should I consider just wood construction with multiple coats of marines spar varnish? Don’t have much experience with wood in wet environments, but that sounds pretty sketchy to me.

The carcass is pretty nice frame and panel vertical grain Doug Fir and existing table Top is marine plywood. I purchased some inexpensive tile (I guess for the floor) and I was thinking about putting it on top of the plywood for durability against the water. What do you guys think? Appreciate any and all advice.

Thanks, Mike.

[Edward Weber]

How messy are you?
Kidding aside, do you want a top that repels water or contains water from spilling?

[Matt Riegerix]

I was lucky enough to have some teak scraps to laminate into a sharpening bench top. It’s holding up well, though I tend to wipe up excess water when I’m through.

[Tom M King]

Stainless steel sink with built in drainboard here. They come in all sizes, but I found mine on CL. It has the sink on one end, and a long drainboard in the 92" length. Seller said it came out of a hospital, and seems to be good quality.

I have two faucets, one with a double bend neck so I can cover the parts of the drainboard that I use. It's the first thing that gets moved into the old houses I work on. 2 gallon 120v water heater, and no trap drain that runs to the outside to empty on a sawdust pile, or through the wall when it's in the shop to empty into an Azalea bush.

It gets used for all sorts of things including sharpening. Three granite surface plates on the drainboard towards the sink. Wet grinder on the end.

[Tom M King]

Not a lot of picking there now, but did find this cute one.

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/for/d/san-diego-cuisinart-stainless-steel/7628955716.html

[roger wiegand]

I have an extra large, high quality, flat cafeteria tray, with some kind of non-skid surface on it that keeps stones from sliding around that nicely contains the mess and is easy to clean when necessary

[Richard Coers]

A sink cutout from Corian or Quartz

[William Fretwell]

Granite off cut, lots of weight for stability when sharpening, water friendly. Mine is supported at 3 points underneath so there is no wobble.

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Oh, did I mention it’s FLAT!

[Cameron Wood]

A piece of the original kitchen countertop from my '50s house- salmon color paisley Formica! Plywood was better then as well.

I wouldn't want tile where I'm putting down blades.

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[Rob Luter]

The top of my sharpening station is Melamine. I have a shallow silicone tray that the stones sit in to contain the mess. I use Shapton Glass Stones so they don't need much water. Since this photo was taken I added stone holders to elevate them a bit.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50988878701_f02602a1bb_b.jpg

[mike calabrese]

These come in aluminum, stainless steel and all price ranges. https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/stainless-steel-baking-sheet
To capture your stone you can simply add a corral of just about any material like aluminum angle , attach with JB weld epoxy or typical silicone RTV.
calabrese55

[Andrew Hughes]

I have two pieces of glass I keep my station outside with a water hose.
i also use the spot for spray adhesive the over spray give the glass a sticky slip free surface.

[Mike Allen1010]

thanks for all the great ideas!! I’m checking local availability of a couple of suggested materials and will hopefully post some pictures of the final results.

[Reed Gray]

If I was going to use wood, I would use Ipe. It is very similar to teak as in oily, and very hard. If you can find a metal sink with a drain board that actually drains, that would be a good bet. I use diamond lapping plates and Trend lapping fluid. On the Shapton stones I have, I use an automotive glass cleaner which has no ammonia in it which can bother the nickel plating the diamonds are bonded to. I am not really sure about the value/worth of the Shapton stones. If my stropping compounds are 30,000 and 60,000 grit then why bother with them? My ultra fine diamond stone is 8000 grit. I can get see through shavings with that and my stropping set up.

robo hippy

[Richard Coers]

Actually a sink cut out from a Formica counter top will work if you put a couple of coats of paint on the edges and back side. All the choices are dependent on just how sloppy you are with sharpening. I've even just put down a piece of flexible cutting board on my work bench.

[Mike Allen1010]

thanks all for your advice and suggestions!

Here are some pics of my completed sharpening Bench. I wanted long narrow footprint on rollers to fit into my small shop, but also wanted to create some additional storage space. Doug Fir 2 x 4's for side frames, with vertical grain Doug Fir panels and trim, sugar pine shelves, BB plywood /quartz top. Started as simple shop project so quick half lap /screwed joinery for side frames. Drawers and dividers turned out to be more fun with sliding DT for vertical and horizontal dividers and through and blind DT for 7 drawers.

I was gonna go with just spar varnished plywood for top but got quartz remnant for $100. I like it not only for durability, but also flat surface to accommodate fine sandpaper for flattening blade backs, etc. I previously used a smaller piece of granite for this but am too lazy to haul it out onto the bench when I should. New bench make it easier to have better a habits.

Cheers, Mike


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[Cameron Wood]

Excellent! It won't stay so new looking for long, especially if you use the Makita sharpener.

[Derek Cohen]

Mike, I would explore how to add a waterstone holder similar to this one of mine. “L” shaped holder plus adjustable clamp, all in a nylon/UHMW material …

https://i.postimg.cc/547ghHpz/Board1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/qrj1hY07/Board2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Koepke]

Looking good Mike.

jtk

[Mike Allen1010]

The top of my sharpening station is Melamine. I have a shallow silicone tray that the stones sit in to contain the mess. I use Shapton Glass Stones so they don't need much water. Since this photo was taken I added stone holders to elevate them a bit.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50988878701_f02602a1bb_b.jpgm

Rob, can you tell me more about shallow silicone tray you use to contain the mess and keep your stones steady? I’m looking for something to put under water stones so they don’t move in use. I have mine epoxyed to glass sheet, it sliding is still a concern.Thanks!

[Mike Allen1010]

Mike, I would explore how to add a waterstone holder similar to this one of mine. “L” shaped holder plus adjustable clamp, all in a nylon/UHMW material …

https://i.postimg.cc/547ghHpz/Board1.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/qrj1hY07/Board2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

Regards from Perth

Derek

I definitely need something similar. I saw your setup in the “stones” thread and thought ,”I should have guessed Derek would have an elegant solution to this problem “. Thanks for permission to steal your idea, which I do without the slightest hint of reservation!����

[Cameron Wood]

My set up includes this plastic tub with glass lid that came from my friend's woodworker father's estate.

It is designed to store the water stones. I've come to use it as a base and riser. The tub is filled with water for weight and stability. A small lip catches the sharpening slurry, draining it into the tub, and a piece of rubber mat keeps the stone from sliding around while letting it's position be adjusted. The rubber was sound control in a home music room.

The shelf is over the toilet in the small powder room behind the shop- 40" high, & with the other stuff the actual height of the stone is 44 or 45", so there is no bending over at all. Having the stone raised up on the base gives excellent knuckle and handle clearance.

This was not part of a grand plan but just evolved over time. Not having to get anything out or put it away is a big benefit, and it is not shared territory so it can be messy.


I think the two key points are comfortable height, and being able to place and move the stone to any angle rather than having to adjust wrists & body to a fixed, straight-ahead stone position.

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[Stew Denton]

I have a silicone mat that I got at Woodcraft. I don't have a sharpening station per se, but the mat is a cheap short term fix. It is sold to hold sharpening stones and collects the water as you sharpen. It is non-slip, and the stones when used on it also do not slip. It is about $20. It is very roughly 13" by 17," so normally I only use one stone at a time on it.

After I build a real sharpening station the mat will be a permanent part. After sharpening I pick up the mat, take it outside and rinse the residue away.

It has two features I really like, it works great and is cheap.

Stew

[Rob Luter]

m

Rob, can you tell me more about shallow silicone tray you use to contain the mess and keep your stones steady? I’m looking for something to put under water stones so they don’t move in use. I have mine epoxyed to glass sheet, it sliding is still a concern.Thanks!

It's a Silicone Dog Dish Mat from Amazon (LINK HERE (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LDXZ1WG/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&psc=1)). It's real easy to clean up. I got the 19 x 12 size. If I had it to do over I'd get the next size larger (24 x 16). I lined the bottom with a piece of perforated shelf liner from the home center. Any water drains through so there's not a puddle. After this photo was taken I got inexpensive stone holders for my three stones (LINK (https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-71013-Sharpening-Holder-2-Inch/dp/B00NFB2MTI?ref_=ast_sto_dp)). They stay put like they're glued to the mat but are easy to reverse or move to the side for whatever reason. The thing I like best about the setup is that I can carry the kit in whole or in part to the sink and clean it all up periodically.

[Chuck Hill]

That is a good idea. I use a couple of fast food trays, but the stones do slip. Some silicone sheet in the bottom would fix that. I like the trays as they have a lip to retain the water.

[Mike Allen1010]

It's a Silicone Dog Dish Mat from Amazon (LINK HERE (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LDXZ1WG/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&psc=1)). It's real easy to clean up. I got the 19 x 12 size. If I had it to do over I'd get the next size larger (24 x 16). I lined the bottom with a piece of perforated shelf liner from the home center. Any water drains through so there's not a puddle. After this photo was taken I got inexpensive stone holders for my three stones (LINK (https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-71013-Sharpening-Holder-2-Inch/dp/B00NFB2MTI?ref_=ast_sto_dp)). They stay put like they're glued to the mat but are easy to reverse or move to the side for whatever reason. The thing I like best about the setup is that I can carry the kit in whole or in part to the sink and clean it all up periodically.

Thanks Rob- I appreciate your generous advice!!

[Paul Saffold]

The stone holders are on sale for prime day TODAY.7/12
504200

[Rob Luter]

The stone holders are on sale for prime day TODAY.7/12
504200


That's a great price. Seems to me about what I paid a couple years ago. I can vouch for the quality too. The expensive versions can't hold a stone any better.

Check out this vid at 10:53 for a demo and review


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwmtOVV_34Q&ab_channel=StumpyNubs