SHARPENING STONE MAINTENANCE
BEFORE/DURING SHARPENING
SHARPENING STONE LOST ITS ABRASIVENESS, IT NEEDS METATE
Metate (目立て) is the process of reviving the abrasive power of a Diamond sharpening stone. When a diamond sharpening stone is used, the stone particles become even finer between the blade and the stone, and these particles can get into the gaps between the stone and reduce its grinding power. Removing those particles using some tools on each grit; Metate can restore the abrasiveness of the stone, it is especially important to refresh a stone with Metate on rough sharpening stones.
1, HOW TO MAINTAIN THE SHARPENING STONE
FOR UPTO 1500 GRIT DIAMOND SHARPENING STONE
WHAT YOU NEED
- Diamond Sharpening Stone up to 1500 grit, NSK Kogyo
- Stone Resurfacer #120, Large (for below 1500 grit diamond stone)
- Lapping Glass Plate (Tempered Glass Plate)
- Clean Water
HOW TO DO
1, Producing the base mud.
Wet all tools and rub diamond sharpening stones with Dressing Stone 120 grit to make mud.
*Do not wash off the mud, it is needed in the next process.
2. Set the glass plate
Set the glass plate on the sharpening stand and wet the surface.
3. Rub the sharpening stone against the glass.
Leaving the mud on the stone we made in step, cover the glass plate over the diamond sharpening stone and rub it clockwise several times to flatten the surface of the diamond stone. Changing direction until the surface of the diamond sharpening stone is flat.
4, Wash everything clean.
Once the diamond sharpening stone is flattened, rinse both of the diamond sharpening stone and the glass plate with water. This mud is 120 grit and coarse, so any residue will cause scratching.
* We recommend using NSK Kogyo's Flattener to flatten the stone before start sharpening, and use it for maintenance during the sharpening process.
* Note that due to using 120 grit dressing stone, maintaining 800 grit diamond stone or higher grit will wear the diamond stone very quickly.
2, HOW TO METATE
REFRESHING THE SURFACE OF THE STONE
ONLY FOR UP TO 200 GRIT DIAMOND SHARPENING STONE
WHAT YOU NEED
- Diamond Sharpening Stone under 200 grit, NSK Kogyo
- Stone Resurfacer #120, Small (for below 200 grit diamond stone, Metate)
- Clean Water
WHEN TO METATE
Recommend to Metate when the surface goes off of a flat.
It depends on your sharpening work and technic, however Lightly and maintained surfacing and flattening should be done every 15-30 min, heavy reshaping sharpening will need more resurfacing than that. The single bevel shouldn't be needed more often than double bevel.
HOW TO DO
1. Wet and prepare
Prepare the Dressing Stone #120 (Small) and Diamond Sharpening Stone by wetting them.
2, Aggravate the sharpening stone
Scrub the entire diamond sharpening stone evenly with the Dressing Stone #120 (Small), rounding the edges and corners of the diamond sharpening stone as well.
3, Wash everything clean
Once the diamond sharpening stone is flattened, rinse both the diamond sharpening stone and the Dressing Stone #120 (Small) with water. This mud is 120 grit and coarse, so any residue will cause scratching.
* We recommend using NSK Kogyo's Flattener to flatten the stone before start sharpening, and use this stone for Metate on 200 grit or under Daimond sharpening stone.
* Note that due to using 120 grit dressing stone, doing Metate on 200 grit diamond stone or higher grit will wear the diamond stone very quickly.
