The Norton 614636855653 IB8 India 100/320-grit combination oilstone is made of aluminum oxide with 100 grit on one face for repairing steel cutting edges and 320 grit on the opposite face for sharpening and maintaining them; it produces durable, smooth-cutting edges, and is preferred for close tolerances. This oilstone is used to restore cutting edges on straight-edged tools, such as chisels, knives, plane blades, and precision instruments. The stone is prefilled with oil to save time and eliminate the need to presoak it prior to use. The oil prevents metal from bonding with the abrasive surface by flushing away dislodged abrasive and metal chips.

This aluminum oxide stone has a tough fracture- and wear-resistant grit that is more durable than silicon carbide and capable of sharpening to very close tolerances. It is created by grading aluminum oxide to a consistent particle size and blending it with bonding agents. It is then molded and surface-finished. This 1 x 8 x 2 inch (H x W x D) stone, suitable for bench use, is harder and more durable than a waterstone. (H is height, the vertical distance from lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.) It conforms to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) abrasive grit standards.

Sharpening stones, or whetstones, are abrasive surfaces used to sharpen and hone the edges of steel cutting implements, such as chisels, knives, scissors, hand scrapers, and plane blades. Sharpening is the process of creating or re-establishing a cutting edge by grinding away portions of the metal to adjust the angle of the edge and reform the shape. Honing removes small imperfections. Stones can be flat, for working flat edges, or shaped, for edges that are more complex. Sharpening stones are made of natural or synthetic materials that range from softer to harder, and are categorized by the size of their abr