NortonKnife Sharpener Combination Grit Oil Stone - Sharpening Stone with Fine/Coarse Combination, 8 x 2 x 1, Red/Black

UPDATE--- I have now used this to sharpen a hatchet and some vintage knives! It did a SUPER JOB! I used kerosene as the honing oil and the stone absolutely soaked it up. metal cutting was fast on the coarse side and still pretty quick on the "fine". I would really call the red "fine" side more of an EXTRA medium. It was not quite fine enough to put the keen edge I prefer on to the materials I was sharpening. Keep the stone very wet. I recommend a small squirt/drip bottle ( I use color applicator bottles from a beauty supply store). The stone will load with metal debris if not kept wet enough to keep it washed away.OVERALL--- I am still very happy with this purchase and recommend it to all home sharpeners.I bought this after watching a YouTube personality use it and review it. He spoke highly of it and demonstrated the proper use of it. I have not used it yet, as I want to make a wooden case/bracket to use it securely on my work bench. SO my very first impressions of this stone and its packaging are very impressive. First, it comes in a nice heavy stock box. I really appreciate an item that is well packaged. An item that comes in a reusable and semi durable container, makes me feel the brand realizes the importance of that little extra. With proper care and maybe only a tad of reinforcement, this Stone should be protected for decades.The stone is solid and heavy. It feels and looks MUCH better quality than the cheap stones from tool discounters and flea market junk. it has sharp edges and corners that will help with tool sharpening. But, It will wear your endurance if you try to take the stone to the tool, instead of the tool to the stone.I think the description as "fine' and "coarse", are not the same levels of grit as my other sharpeners' descriptions. The FINE on this stone, feels a little closer to a medium, and the COARSE, is just a tad rougher than expected. I would not feel comfortable using this as a FINISH sharpener. I intend to use it to re-profile and as a start to getting the final edge.I have a very cheap block plane that desperately needs sharpening on the iron. I believe this India stone with a coating of kerosene will be able to bring the iron to a decent edge. The size and shape is exactly what I need to accomplish that. My Pucks and pocket sharpeners just are not a easy use for that purpose. plane irons, chisels, machete, bushcraft knives, larger blades will all be more easily sharpened with this stone.I will update this review after I sharpen my tools. But I feel I could use this stone for many years and my future grandkids might get to use it and pass it down to their kids. I remember my Dad's India stone and wish he still had it today.

This is just what I was expecting. The quality is good. It works well. It arrived well I am very satisfied.

This oil store is excellent for sharpening knives. I used a friend’s old IB6 stone and was so impressed that I began searching for one when I found this IB8 stone. Ordered it for processing big game and extremely pleased with it. Use a a good quality moral oil and be liberal with it. The steel shavings from the knives just wipes off. It cuts the steel even in hard steel knives with ease. Quickly sharpens all knives to a fine edge.

All you need to do to use this stone is put a little oil or WD40 on it, sharpen your tools, wipe it off with a paper towel, and then put it away. No soaking, no flattening, very little mess. You don't need to worry about rust because there is no water involved.I found normal honing oils to be a bit goopy and messy. I just use WD-40 and it works great. You don't need a lot -- just enough to make the metal particles float in the oil so they won't get stuck to the stone.Some people talk about flattening these stones. Don't bother. If you get one that looks like a banana, send it back. Otherwise, if it looks flat, it is flat enough. The old guys who have been using these stones for decades never flatten them unless they are in really bad shape.You can get these in several sizes. I like the 2x8 because it is easy to use the entire stone, and because it is easy to hold in the hand to sharpen axes and scissors. The wider stones are more convenient for use with honing guides, but you need to be careful to use the entire stone or you will eventually have high spots around the edges.If I could start over, I would have skipped the waterstones and the diamond stones and just bought one of these. They cut slower than waterstones but the total time is shorter because there is less prep and cleanup. They have a more consistent grit than diamond stones and can take a great deal of abuse. I sharpen my chisels and planes on these stones and I can take very fine shavings.

Hone your blade to a fine edge with this perfectly flat, fine grit surface. Years of use does not wear a “saddle” through the center like softer stones. The black crystalon edge is useful for restoring abused edges that otherwise might not be salvable.Get the largest stone and save time and frustration with larger blades.The secret to having a sharp knife is to sharpen it often. Having the right tool for the job gets it done.Diamond sharpeners are quicker, especially on harder steels. But at the cost of faster blade wear. I do use a diamond sharpener for my D2 steel blades when they get really dull. But the Norton stone is the king for fine hones.

Not a bad little stone for the money ..I use oil on it and I really like the 320 side it is more than enough for any full knife to get her going again ...I do follow up with a 1k then 3 k stone then strop ..But it puts a very good starting edge without much effort

Sometimes, you just know when a product is good. And that's what happened with this Norton sharpening stone. It's like seeing a work of art. First of all, Norton is a name you can trust. Secondly, it just looks great. It has coarse and fine sides, so it's suitable for all your sharpening needs. But most importantly, it works amazingly. My knives are razor sharp now. I can't stop sharpening them! If you have an obsession with sharpening stones like me, you need this in your life.This review represents my personal opinion and experience with this product. I am not affiliated with the manufacturer or seller, and this review should not be interpreted as an endorsement or professional advice. Any reliance on the information provided is at your own risk.