Slip Stones

About Slip Stones

Slip stones are specialised sharpening stones designed with shaped profiles to hone and maintain the cutting edges of tools with curved or intricate blades. Unlike flat bench stones, slip stones feature round, triangular, square, and half-round profiles that allow precise access to gouges, carving tools, moulding planes, and other shaped cutting edges. The slip stone range at MyToolShed.co.uk features high-quality Norton India stones, renowned for their fast-cutting aluminium oxide composition and excellent durability.

These essential sharpening tools are compact and portable, making them ideal for workshop maintenance and on-site tool care. Norton India slip stones deliver consistent results whether you're touching up edges between major sharpening sessions or restoring badly worn tools. Available in various shapes and sizes, they provide tradespeople and craftsmen with the versatility needed to maintain a complete tool kit to professional standards.

Applications

Slip stones are invaluable across numerous trades and applications:

• Woodworking and Carpentry: Sharpening carving gouges, V-tools, veiners, and moulding plane irons
• Cabinetmaking: Maintaining curved scrapers and specialised hand tools
• Stone Carving and Masonry: Honing shaped chisels and curved cutting tools
• Engineering and Metalworking: Deburring and finishing curved edges on precision components
• Pattern Making: Sharpening intricate profile cutters and specialised shaping tools
• DIY Enthusiasts: Home workshop maintenance of garden tools, craft knives, and hobby carving equipment

Choosing The Right Slip Stones

Selecting the appropriate slip stone depends on several key factors:

• Profile Shape: Match the stone profile to your tool – round stones for U-shaped gouges, triangular for V-tools, square for internal corners, and half-round for gentle curves
• Grit Size: Norton India stones offer medium grit suitable for general sharpening and edge maintenance; consider your sharpening frequency and condition of tools
• Stone Size: Choose dimensions that comfortably fit the tools you're sharpening whilst allowing proper hand control during use
• Material Quality: India stones from MyToolShed.co.uk provide excellent value with their aluminium oxide construction, offering faster cutting than natural stones with superior consistency
• Tool Collection: Consider purchasing multiple profiles to cover your complete range of edge tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Do slip stones need oil or water?

Norton India slip stones work best with a light honing oil, which prevents metal particles from clogging the stone's surface whilst providing lubrication. Avoid water with India stones as they're designed specifically for oil use. Apply a thin coat before sharpening and wipe clean after each session.

How do I prevent slip stones from wearing unevenly?

Use the entire surface of the slip stone during sharpening rather than repeatedly working the same spot. Rotate the stone regularly and match the stone's curve to the tool's profile. With proper technique, Norton India stones maintain their shape exceptionally well over extended use.

Can slip stones sharpen straight-edged tools?

Whilst primarily designed for curved edges, certain slip stone profiles like square or triangular can work on straight edges in confined spaces. However, flat bench stones remain more efficient for chisels, plane irons, and straight-bladed tools.