Review on 🔪 Norton 8-Inch Combination Oilstone (Product Code: 614636855653) by Michael Caste

All you have to do to use this stone is apply a little oil or WD40 to it, sharpen the tools, dry it with a paper towel and then put it away. No soaking, no flattening, very little mess. You don't have to worry about rust because there is no water in it. I've found regular honing oils to be a bit sticky and messy. I only use WD-40 and it works great. You don't need much - just enough for the metal particles to float in the oil and not stick to the stone. Some people talk about flattening these stones. Do not worry. If you receive one that looks like a banana, send it back. Otherwise, if it looks flat, it's flat enough. Old people who have used these stones for decades never level them unless they are in very bad condition. You can buy them in several sizes. I like the 2x8 because the whole stone is easy to use and also because it's easy to hold in hand for sharpening axes and scissors. Wider stones are more comfortable to use with sharpening guides, but you must be careful to use the whole stone or you will have burrs on the edges. If I could start over I would skip the water and diamond stones. and just bought one of these. They cut slower than waterstones, but the overall time is less because less preparation and cleaning is required. They have a more stable grit than diamond stones and can withstand heavy loads. I sharpen my chisels and planes on these stones and can pick up very small shavings.