Secrets of Sharpening - The Wet Paper Towel

Works just like it says, Great. Keeping the arms and elbows locked is the toughest part of the process, but with a little practice, and patience, you can shave fuzz of a peach and not break the skin, after sharpening.

I like your table and wish I had room for one in my shop. What I've resorted to is an old baking sheet; well it's old now, not when I borrowed it from the kitchen! I clamp it to my assembly table and make all the mess I want without fear of ruining the bench. It's ugly and somewhat rusty now but keeps the mess contained and easy to hose off till next time.

The towel trick works very well. I always put a wet tea-towel under the slab I use for rolling out pastry dough to stop it sliding around on the laminate work surface.

Stainless or stone that has Ben lapped "flat" won't need any help holding down an equally flat stone or sharpening plate. The thinner the water layer the stronger the stiction. I use a piece of Zodiac kitchen counter material, quartz that is flat enough, weighs about fifty pounds, cleans up without scratching or marking like stainless and was free from a local countertop contractor scrap bin. Works with wet abrasive sheets as well as my lapped stone sign plate which was $1500! Holds diamond plates like glue with one spritz of my secret dilute green cleanser and vineger!

I have used a glass tray from an old microwave for years. It's very solid and durable, and cleans up easily. On top of that I use rubber shelf liner. It grips my water stones and keeps them solid under pressure.

I got a granite tile from a tile store that was a discontinued sample. This is large and dead flat. I start sharpening with a sheet of wet & dry sandpaper to flatten my waterstones. The wet sheet of sandpaper adheres to the granite tile and the abrasive surface is perfect for holding the undersurface of the stone while I sharpen. Then i just swap stones and flatten on the sandpaper as needed. Its and all-in-one setup that stores away nicely when I'm done.

Great tip! I love inexpensive improvements to my sharpening bench, but now I may have to consider a new sharpening bench! A stainless bench in the workshop would be good for all kinds of things. I also like the no skid rubber drawer liners to put under sharpening stones.

I have a 4000 / 10000 mesh water-stone that I use to sharpen my spokesave blades. I was running water in the sink now i use a wet cloth. Thanks for the idea.

Randy