We only want to sell the very best stones ever made, and in our opinion Norton make the best! India Stones India aluminium oxide stones are favoured for imparting durable, smooth-cutting edges. The abrasive grain is very friable, so the edges continue to retain sharp cutting edges with use. In addition, this friability means that India stones remove slightly less metal during the sharpening process, extending the life of your knives and tools. Crystolon Stones - coming soon The silicon carbide grade used in Crystolon stones is more durable than aluminium oxide, making the Crystolon silicon carbide stones more aggressive. In removing more metal with each sharpening pass, you can speed up the sharpening process, which is preferred when the speed of sharpening is more important than the fineness of the cutting edge. Because sharpening is frequently a progression, first repairing an edge with a coarse grit stone and then perfecting the edge with a fine grit stone, many people choose to buy a combination stone, which utilizes a coarse grit on one side and a fine grit on the other side. It is also common practice to use a Crystolon stone for initial coarse grit sharpening before moving on to an India stone and then finishing with an Arkansas stone, a natural benchstone. Arkansas Stones - coming soon Natural stones have been used for hundreds of years. The most popular natural stones available today are made from Ozark novaculite (silicone quartz), which is quarried in Arkansas and cut to shape to make what are commonly known as Arkansas stones. These sharpening stones are very hard and dense and will not cut as fast or as aggressively as man-made or diamond stones. Due to their unique composition, Arkansas stones polish as they sharpen, imparting an extremely fine, smooth edge. Because of this, they are typically used as the final sharpening step after an India or Crystolon stone is used or to maintain an already sharpened edge. Looking for a complete setup? Our sharpening bundle includes everything you need. → bundle.
