Water vs oil sharpening stones.

try going to www.japanwoodworker.com they might be able to help you.

-- Roper - master of sawdust-

Water stones are much softer than oilstones in my experience.

You may be able to carve off the corner of a waterstone with a
utility knife. That’s one test.

Try using water to polish the back of s chisel or plane iron.
If the stone works you probably have a waterstone. Get
a Nagura stone for cleaning the glaze off your stones too.

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You can damage a water stone with oil but you can’t hurt an oil stone with water. Put water on it and it beads up then it is an oil stone but if it soaks up the water then it is an water stone. Water stones are very pourous and soak up water like a spongue.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

Thanks a lot, got water stone, just what i was hoping for. I have an ouil stone and wanted to try a water stone.

Can I just leave the stone in water in a tupperware container when not in use, to help it staying nice and wet?

-- Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary ...

That’s what a lot of people do.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

Should be fine as long as the water doesn’t freeze.

Keep the water clean of dark metal swarf which will
gradually clog the pores of the stone.

Its best to clean your stones after use and put them
in fresh water but not necessary to be obsessive about
it.

Waterstones get “glazed” easily and need to be cleaned
with a Nagura stone.

-- Need help with marketing your business? Look in my profile.

lol, not much freezing here in Southern California.

I need to get myself a Nagura stone, thanks Loren.

-- Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary ...