I was sharpening a chisel the other day and when I held a straight edge across my whet stone I observed that it has worn slightly concave. What is the proper way to flatten a Japanese water stone? Can I do it with wetordry sandpaper cemented to a glass plate? If so, what grit paper should I use?

 

Hello thiggy and Welcome to my Sharpening forum.

Best method is to use a diamond tipped straight edged tool designed specifically for this purpose. The other method is to use a shapening stone designed for this purpose.

Both types should be available at better local hardware stores. Most welding supply stores and abrasive products supply dealers also carry these items.

Since we due sharpening commerically, we invest in the diamond wheel tool. However, truing up the wheel by hand can be done with a little practice & patients.

Be sure to do this proceedure slowly and carefully. Sharpening wheels and shaping stones have been known to break apart unexpectedly and when they do they can cause serious injuries.

Regards and Good Luck.
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Thanks for your response, but I was not refering to a sharpening wheel, but a rectangular Japanese water stone.

 

Hi their are 2 ways of redress a stone, correct way is using a lapping plate with grit in it, and keep rubbing till it is flat.
The second way which might work, but cant gaurentee it is, to get some wet and dry paper(400 grit) and a thick piece of glass, say 1/4" and laying the paper on the glass and rubbing the face of your stone on it, make sure you keep the paper wet with water.
Hopefully the fine wet and dry paper(400grit ) will have enough bite to cut the stone down.
Take care
Garry.

P.S. I repair motorcycles from time to time, and swear but the 1/4 glass plate to dress the cylinder heads.