SB-650 Stone Grader

[jrh45acp]

Greetings to you all.  I'm a new member, and a sharpening amateur.  I noticed after a few uses that the SB-650 Stone Grader is loading up with what appears to be steel cleaned off the grinding wheel.  To me, that would seem to make the stone grader less effective, so I have been taking it occasionally  into the kitchen and scrubbing it with dish soap and nylon bristle brush.  Is this necessary?

Thanks for your thoughts,

John in Arizona

[cbwx34]

Greetings to you all.  I'm a new member, and a sharpening amateur.  I noticed after a few uses that the SB-650 Stone Grader is loading up with what appears to be steel cleaned off the grinding wheel.  To me, that would seem to make the stone grader less effective, so I have been taking it occasionally  into the kitchen and scrubbing it with dish soap and nylon bristle brush.  Is this necessary?

Thanks for your thoughts,

John in Arizona

Welcome to the forum.

I would vote... not necessary.  The stone may load a bit, but I've never had it load to the point where it wasn't effective, and I have never cleaned mine..  The stone will wear a little, which should keep it cleaned out.

It's possible you may not be using enough pressure for the stone to be effective?  It takes a bit of pressure (and time) for the stone to work.  Take a look at this video...

https://youtu.be/pQRtKgou-gg?t=53s

... notice how after a bit of time he puts his palm on the stone and applies a decent amount of pressure to it... (and keeps it there for about 30 seconds).

[jrh45acp]

Thank you for your thoughts. 

I have very much enjoyed using my new Tormek T8, and already have some tools I could never quite get an edge on, very sharp.

John in Arizona