- 240-grit aluminum oxide stone for sharpening and maintaining edges.
- 600-grit natural Arkansas (novaculite) stone for honing and polishing edges.
- 1/2 x 8 x 3 inch (H x W x D) size of each oilstone makes it suitable for use as a bench sharpener for knives and tools.
- Plastic hinged boxes with no-slip rubber feet can be used as holders for the stones during sharpening.
- 4.5 oz. can of Norton sharpening stone oil for lubrication, and an instructional DVD to demonstrate basic sharpening methods.
Product Description
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The Norton 39868 oilstone starter kit includes a 240-grit
aluminum oxide stone for sharpening and maintaining edges and a
600-grit natural Arkansas stone for honing and polishing them, a
4.5 oz. can of sharpening stone oil for lubrication, and an
instructional DVD. A plastic box protects each oilstone and
provides an oil reservoir to keep it clean and saturated. The
removable box lid with no-slip rubber feet acts as a sharpening
station to hold the stone in place during bench use. The stones
in this kit are used sequentially to restore cutting edges on
straight-edged tools, such as chisels, knives, plane blades, and
precision instruments; the aluminum oxide stone is suitable for
sharpening and maintaining a cutting edge, while the Arkansas
stone produces a honed and polished edge.
The sharpening stone oil meets FDA requirements for use near
food, and consists of copeia-grade mineral oil formulated
with the correct lubricity for oilstone sharpening. It prevents
metal from bonding with the abrasive surface by flushing away
dislodged abrasive and metal chips. Each stone is also prefilled
with oil to save time and eliminate the need to presoak it prior
to use. The aluminum oxide oilstone has a tough fracture- and
wear-resistant grit that is more durable than silicon carbide and
capable of sharpening to very close tolerances. The Arkansas
stone is used for fine sharpening and honing, especially after
sharpening with synthetic stones.
The synthetic aluminum oxide stone is created by grading aluminum
oxide to a consistent particle size and blending it with bonding
agents. It is then molded and surface-finished. The Arkansas
oilstone is a natural hard abrasive stone that is mined for use
and harder than most synthetic stones. These 1/2 x 8 x 3 inch (H
x W x D) oilstones, which are suitable for bench use, are harder
and more durable than a waterstone. (H is height, the vertical
distance from lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal
distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance
from front to back.) The synthetic aluminum oxide oilstone
conforms to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) abrasive
grit standards. There are no industry-wide standards for
hardness, particle size, or color of natural sharpening stones,
but Norton’s standards for its natural stones have become
benchmarks.
Sharpening stones, or whetstones, are abrasive surfaces used to
sharpen and hone the edges of steel cutting implements, such as
chisels, knives, scissors, hand scrapers, and plane blades.
Sharpening is the process of creating or re-establishing a
cutting edge by grinding away portions of the metal to adjust the
angle of the edge and reform the shape. Honing removes small
imperfections. Stones can be flat, for working flat edges, or
shaped, for edges that are more complex. Sharpening stones are
made of natural or synthetic materials that range from softer to
harder, and are categorized by the size of their abrasive
particles, known as grit. A stone with a coarser grit is used
when more metal needs to be removed (e.g., when sharpening a
nicked or very dull blade); the stone with the finest grit
produces the sharpest edge. Where numbers are assigned to specify
grit, they range from coarser grit (low) to finer grit (high).
Some sharpening stones are designed for use with a lubricating
liquid, some can be used dry, and others can be used either wet
or dry. When used with lubricating liquid, a sharpening stone can
be called a waterstone or an oilstone, based on the lubricant
required.
Norton Abrasives manufactures sanding, grinding, and polishing
abrasives, and has been located in the United States since 1885.
Norton, now a brand of Saint-Gobain, meets ISO 9000 and 14001
certification for quality and environmental management standards.
What’s in the Box?
* 240-grit aluminum oxide stone in plastic hinged box with
no-slip rubber feet
* 600-grit natural Arkansas stone in plastic hinged box with
no-slip rubber feet
* 4.5 oz. can of Norton sharpening stone oil
* Instructional DVD
* Printed instructions
From the Manufacturer
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Starter kit includes two 5-Inch by 3-Inch by 1/2-Inch thick
essential oil stones (medium and soft). Kit also includes
425-Ounce canister of sharpening oil plus an instructional DVD.