awp101
.401 Bobcat
I am a Pilgrim and a Stranger
Posts: 2,690
|
Post by awp101 on Mar 12, 2017 14:39:51 GMT -5
Rather than derail the Recommended files for the fledgling gunsmith?? thread, I thought I'd pull this quote out to start a discussion on stones for 'smithing work. I know even less about what stones are needed, what stones are good, etc than I do about files. I suggest you avoid the diamond type hones and go straight for the good quality stones. The floor is open! Wait, that sounds like a safety hazard... |
|
nicholst55
.375 Atomic
Retired, twice.
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by nicholst55 on Mar 12, 2017 19:26:27 GMT -5
It depends on the intended use. For deburring, diamond hones work very well. For trigger jobs, medium and fine India stones, and soft and hard Arkansas stones get the nod. I've also got a couple of ruby stones that I really like - they're quite expensive, but they cut exceptionally well. Brownells has a pretty good selection, but so do lots of other places. I've got some specialty shops bookmarked at home, but I'm at work right now. If I can remember that long, I'll post some other sources when I get home.
I will say that IMHO, Brownells' Premium Arkansas stones are overpriced for what they are. The triangle stone in that set will shatter if you look at it harshly, let alone try to use it.
|
|
nicholst55
.375 Atomic
Retired, twice.
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by nicholst55 on Mar 13, 2017 7:47:14 GMT -5
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2017 20:14:02 GMT -5
I will start out by saying that the really cheap stones can be awful, and even counterproductive. I've encountered stones that weren't square, or even especially smooth. I have a couple of stones on order from Spyderco to see how they pan out. Figure on buying stones for different cutting tasks, fine cut, medium cut, heavy cut, and even some really super fine finish cut stones. I have a couple that feel like soapstone in my hand, they're so fine and smooth.
There will be specialty stones too like the 1911 trigger track stone I just received. Most of my stones came from Brownells, but I ordered the Spyderco stones direct from them.
|
|
nicholst55
.375 Atomic
Retired, twice.
Posts: 1,064
|
Post by nicholst55 on Mar 15, 2017 20:47:21 GMT -5
I will start out by saying that the really cheap stones can be awful, and even counterproductive. I've encountered stones that weren't square, or even especially smooth. I have a couple of stones on order from Spyderco to see how they pan out. Figure on buying stones for different cutting tasks, fine cut, medium cut, heavy cut, and even some really super fine finish cut stones. I have a couple that feel like soapstone in my hand, they're so fine and smooth. There will be specialty stones too like the 1911 trigger track stone I just received. Most of my stones came from Brownells, but I ordered the Spyderco stones direct from them. Some of the older gunsmithing texts stress this, and go into detail on how to dress stones to square up the edges, and even how to glue broken stones back together. dressing a stone is essentially done by using oil and coarse sandpaper on a flat surface, rubbing the stone in a figure-8. |
|
gregs
.30 Stingray
Posts: 458 
|
Post by gregs on Apr 3, 2017 11:42:09 GMT -5
|
|
