Norton 220x/1000x Combination Waterstone

Norton 220x/1000x Combination Waterstone

Highland Hardware has been an ardent proponent of Japanese waterstones for many years. So, when Norton came out with their waterstones, we wanted to give them a go. After almost two years of shop use and testing, we are pleased to offer these fine stones.

The 220X/1000X stone measures 8 in. long x 3 in. wide x 1 in. thick.

We've found the Norton stones work just as remarkably as their Japanese counterparts, but with some differences. The Norton stones wear a little tougher in general, and thus require less frequent flattening. The 220 grit stone cuts more aggressively and is less likely to clog than other coarse stones. It's perfect for flattening the backs of new tools and removing large bevel nicks. The 1000 grit stone is the one you'll go to when you need to resharpen a tool that's in pretty good shape. It's coarse enough to reform an edge without leaving deep scratches that you'll have to remove later. Once you're done with the 1000 grit stone, a few strokes on a finer stone will have you back to work. All Norton stones are 3" wide x 8" long x 1" thick, making them wider than even our large Japanese waterstones. They will readily accommodate wider plane irons, and all tools can be easily honed with roller guides.

You care for and maintain Norton waterstones in all the ways you're familiar with (see our handout, Waterstone Sharpening). You can use the Norton Flattening Stone (156620) or any other method you like for truing all the stones. Each stone comes in a nonskid, plastic case for clean use and storage.