A sharpening thread :-)

[TRITON]

They do.

Its job is as a consumable, it's not meant to last to the end of creation.

 

[mark w]

Not if you spread the pressure.
But a bit of a hollow is usually no problem as long as you know it's there.
I had one mysterious stone with deep hollow lengthways along the coarse side which I guess must have been from regular axe sharpening - axe forcefully applied to stationary stone. No problem at all and seemed to help vaguely.
But the fine side had the opposite - slightly rounded over - so little that I didn't see it at first. I found it out when I noticed a plane blade developing a "reverse camber", very slight hollow in the middle of the blade. But then I just changed the way I used it - making more pressure towards the middle of the stone.
This was an 8" Norton "0" coarse and extra fine.
I guess the fine side was regularly used on the same axe, but hand held, which could round it over slightly. Stone applied to stationary axe.
I only ever flattened a stone once to see if it helped in any way. It didn't.
If you were caught out in the wild somewhere and had to sharpen something urgently you would soon find out how to do even on a spherical boulder!
I never bothered with water stones, I couldn't see the point, especially after following all the struggles the users seem to have with them - endless flattening, fast wear, water all over the place and rust! It seems to be just a passing fashion. Sooner it passes the better!

Japanese waterstones are excellent, struggles??? I've never struggled with one. I'm still trying to work out how a concave or convex stone can be better than a flat one, I guess if a person blathers on about it for long enough they'll convince themselves they're ok.

 

[Jacob]

Japanese waterstones are excellent, struggles??? I've never struggled with one. I'm still trying to work out how a concave or convex stone can be better than a flat, I guess if a person blathers on about it for long enough they'll convince themselves their ok.

I didn't say they were "better" - just that they tend to be no problem if you know what you are doing. Flattening everything in sight is a peculiar feature of modern sharpening.

 

[mark w]

I didn't say they were "better" - just that they tend to be no problem if you know what you are doing.

If you know what you're doing, or maybe if you don't.

 

[TRITON]

I just haven't picked up on what is superior about traditional Japanese sharpening as it seems to be much the same as the Western variety, but using different materials as available, with slight variations in tool design. Rounded bevels and all!
Linseed oil is our nearest equivalent to camellia oil - but don't use it on your hair i.e. its traditional usage in the west as an expensive exotic import.

Just taking the proverbial, no malice intended, nor smirch on your good name

I don't remember saying that the Japanese method of sharpening was superiour over anyone elses Must be getting old. though not as old as you grandad.