How to Determine Grits Size?

[WD]

Repost again, original did not show up.

Is there a simple way to determine the grits size of sharpening stone without the original boxes etc.?

Thank you in advance.

[Charles Krug]

Sure. Put it under a microscope with a calibrated reticle and measure it, then compare the size of the grains to one of the abrasive industry standards.

Simple.

8-)

More practicle for home use might be to try working some mild steel and see what sort of finish it gives compared to your other stones.

The fact that I sand 80-100-120-150-180 is really only a convenience. The essential information is "start coarse, end fine."

So long as you have a handle on how it compares to your other stones, that's all you need to know.

[WD]

Thank you for the advice. I bought a few of these stones from estate sales and it is easy to tell an oilstone or waterstone by traces of oil. How do you compare "coarse" and "fine" when you have no reference? I estimate the stones maybe 1000 grits or above from ex-woodworkers' basement and one of the oilstone is red color "Norton".

Anymore suggestion? Thanks again.

[Buddy Matlosz]

From the subject, I thought this was a post on Southern cooking.

B.

[Charles Krug]

Exactly how I suggested here:

So what kind of finish do they give when you use them?

[Dave in Fairfax]

I hear that. My answer is bust some sausage on top, sprinkle some cheese, a bit of butter and chew. Swallow when it gets to be the right size.

Dave in Fairfax

[Jay Pique]

Sharp is sharp. Grab a 4x glass and keep checking things out. I go from 220 for reshaping (unless they are a *disaster*) to 600 to 1000,

1500 and then 2000 on microabrasive paper. After the 220ing it goes real quick.

600 gives you a wierd sort of grayish mirror, the 1000, 1500 and 2k really bring out the luster of my burnt umber nose-hairs.

JP