>>>Oilstones<<<

[Jack Briggs]

When an oilstone becomes worn and slightly concave, how does one go about flattening it?

Also - when some describe Arkansas stones they refer to "hard" or "soft" sides of the stone. Is the "hard" side the coarse or fine side?:confused:

[Brian Hale]

I use a large DMT diamond stone to flatten my oil and waterstones.

Brian :)

[Joel Goodman]

"Hard" and "Soft" are two different stones. Sometimes they are sold as a two sided stone -- two different thinner stones are glued together to make a combo stone. The "Hard" is finer than the "Soft" and the "Translucent Hard" and "Black" Arkansas stones are even finer.

[Bob Smalser]

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/17020258/263581563.jpg

No need to buy anything special. 60-grit on a ground machine table works fine.

Doing the first strokes dry often lets you see the hollow in the stone better. Then lube with kerosene or mineral spirits and simply rub out the hollow.

[Tony Zaffuto]

60 or 80 grit AO paper on a known flat surface. Proceed to 100 or 120 grit. Got one waiting for me in the basement right now for flattening.

T.Z.

[Johnny Kleso]

Hard is Fine
Soft is Coarser

Grades go like this

Transparent
Black
Hard
Select Hard
Soft
Washita

[Joel Moskowitz]

Hard is Fine
Soft is Coarser

Grades go like this

Transparent
Black
Hard
Select Hard
Soft
Washita

Actually the grades aren't standards and vary by maker.
with Norton:
Black is finest
Hard/translucent comes next.
LilyWhite Washita is next but really is as fine as most hard/translucent
then comes soft.

Norton does not sell anything specifcially graded as hard, or hard select, or as translucent.