Where to Acquire Sharpening Stones

Recently Jonas Dupuich, on his Bonsai Tonight blog, discussed his use of wetstones to sharpen his tools. Can anyone offer advice/experience as to where one can purchase these stones: rough grit of 400-600/ sharpening grit of 1000-1200/ polishing grit of 6000-8000?

Thanks for your input.

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/ has many different stones, diamond stones, etc.

While they are good...I personally find the cheaper diamond stones much better, last longer, and don't deform in time.

A plain good quality sandpaper mounted on glass works wonderfully too (cheap alternative). Strop or a scrap leather treated with jewelers rouge (comes in different grit) is good for finishing or touch up as well.

Just possible options for your consideration.

Wet stones for sharpening tools are available in any decent hardware stores. I used to sharpen with wet stones but have found a better but more expensive alternative - diamond coated files of about 1 in wide, 8 inches long and 3/16 thick. Available at kitchenwhare shop. They come in different grades. I find the extra fine very good for bonsai tools. In W. Australia I pay about A$20 for each file. They are more maneuverable than wet stones. In sharpening the objective is to sharpen by taking off the least material from the tool. In this way your tool will last longer. Follow the original angle of the cutting edge. Hope this helps.

CJ

newzealandteatree wrote:Wet stones for sharpening tools are available in any decent hardware stores. I used to sharpen with wet stones but have found a better but more expensive alternative - diamond coated files of about 1 in wide, 8 inches long and 3/16 thick. Available at kitchenwhare shop. They come in different grades. I find the extra fine very good for bonsai tools. In W. Australia I pay about A$20 for each file. They are more maneuverable than wet stones. In sharpening the objective is to sharpen by taking off the least material from the tool. In this way your tool will last longer. Follow the original angle of the cutting edge. Hope this helps.

CJ

Ditto. 3M makes them here in the US