finest water stone

[Alexis]

hello, I'm wondering what is the finest water stone you use to sharpen chisel and slick. I have a 1000X/4000X combo stone and a 8000X stone. I'm wondering if I really need the 8000X... After the 4000X, my chisel seems as sharp as they can...

thanks

[Dave Shepard]

I sharpen all the way to 8000x, then go to a ceramic and a strop, but typically, something in the 8000x range is pretty sharp. I'm working on very old timbers, so I need the best edge I can get, and I can tell the difference if I stop at 8000x. I define sharp as "end grain" sharp. If you can take a shaving off of the end grain of a timber, they are sharp. Can you tell the difference between a chisel you sharpened on the 4000x versus the 8000x? I would say that if you are happy at 4000x, then there is no need to go any higher.

[Brad_bb]

Dave, what do you use on the strop?  I got one from Jim, but don't have compound.

[Dave Shepard]

I've tried a couple of different compounds. At first, I only had reg rouge. It will give a good polish, but is slow. Then I got some white, but not sure that is for steel, worked ok. Last week I got some green and a bar of Flex-cut Gold. I ordered from Highland woodworking, but the green bar was from Veritas/Lee Valley. I don't know that either one has an advantage over the other, but they both cut faster than red rouge. I'd be happy with either. As long as I don't nick the edge, I can go a long ways just stropping every once in a while. The best part about stropping is I don't have to put the tool in my jig, so it is quick and easy.

[Dodgy Loner]

I sharpen to 4000x on a waterstone, then polish with a felt buffing wheel on my grinder. You want fast? That's fast . You actually have to be careful not to round over the bevel, but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. I use the green compound from Lee Valley.

[krusty]

personally I begin my day by sharpening my stanley 10 1/4, slick and framing chisel to 8000 grit. then randomly pick one of them to shave with and off to the office I go!

8)