Stone Norton India Combination 8”x2”x1”

One of the most famous and popular sharpening stones from the United States of America is the India Oil Stone from Norton.
This stone, which has a nomenclature reference from the manufacturer IB8, is a combined oil bar (Norton 8" India Combination Bench Stone) for coarse (coarse) and fine (fine) sharpening. Both sides, both coarse and fine, are used aluminum oxide as an abrasive, ceramic binder.
The average size of the abrasive grain on the Coarse side is about 100 microns (P150 according to FEPA classification). The average size of the abrasive grain on the Fine side is about 35 microns (P400 according to FEPA classification). The stone comes from the factory impregnated (impregnated) with oil. The size of the Norton 8" India Combination Bench Stone IB8 abrasive bar is 1"x2"x8" in inches or 24x52x205 mm. At the same time, the thickness of the Coarse stone is 10 mm, which is significantly less than the thickness of the Fine stone, which is 14 mm.
Norton's 8" India bar is made in Mexico. The geometry of the bar from the factory is good, the stone does not require additional alignment, as well as “cheering up” the working surface of the abrasive before the first use. Initially, the stone comes without radial chamfers on the edges (it is recommended to round the edges of the bar before the first use).
The Norton 8" India Combination Bench Stone IB8 bond is hard, the stone holds the geometry very well, but at the same time has a very high metal removal rate. Works equally well with stainless, high alloy and carbon steels. Surfaces are generally easy to clean with warm water or oil.
Although the stone is oily, it can be used with other coolants that have a lower density than oil to increase the rate of metal removal. For example, when working with water, the metal removal rate increases.