While I regularly sharpen my gouges during turning, I am curious about using slip stones between trips to the grinder. What is the best stone? India stone or Arkansas stone? Does use of the stone reduce time at the grinder? Any advice is welcome.
-
It's time to cast your vote in the March 2026 Turning Challenge. (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Chris Lawrence for "Dragon's Grip" being selected as Turning of the Week for March 30, 2026 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
Slip Stones
- Thread starter Jerry Bridges
- Start date
I never bothered. Once you learn to sharpen, instead of grind, the slip stones don't save you any time or steel. The trick is the light touch. Kind of like one mantra I use for turning, from some unknown skew master, "the bevel should rub the wood, but the wood should not know it". Even with the skew, it can be touched up with a diamond or CBN card, but it still needs to be stropped.
robo hippy
robo hippy
I have learned the process of sharpening, not grinding. I wondered if the slip stone was an unnecessary step. Thanks for the information.
I've been experimenting with one of these. https://stores.alanswoodturningstore.com/diamond-slipstone-hone-back-in-stock/
Tools are scary sharp coming off the Sorby Pro-Edge. I haven't found the stone all that helpful and have not integrated it into my workflow. Helpful once in a while to raise a burr on a scraper.
Tools are scary sharp coming off the Sorby Pro-Edge. I haven't found the stone all that helpful and have not integrated it into my workflow. Helpful once in a while to raise a burr on a scraper.
I regularly use a DMT X-fine diamond "card" slip (~2"x3") and a 1/4" rod between grinder trips (via Michael Hosaluk?). Keeping an edge in top shape is much more efficient, regarding time and cut quality, than allowing it to degrade to the point of needing to grind it. 20-second touch-ups with the slips is quick and easy. The icing is that diamond slips are not susceptible to breaking when dropped.
I do like ceramic Spyderco stones and slips as well as natural black arkansas but both are expensive and fragile.
I do like ceramic Spyderco stones and slips as well as natural black arkansas but both are expensive and fragile.
Last edited: