Agree with the others, many web sites that specialize in selling industrial supplies are difficult to understand. They speak the language of the industry. I have also tried shopping for wheels but came away befuddled.
However, your idea for using a 200 grit for sharpening lathe tools is misguided, IMHO. That would do little more than polish an already sharp edge. Anything over 100 grit is just too fine.
Frank,
You will find as many different opinions on this as there are people here.
FWIW, I COMPLETELY agree and think that those of us who grind, sharpen, hone, strop, and polish are wasting their time, as the tool loses 100% of that stropped and polished edge as soon as it touches the workpiece. I also think that a slightly ragged edge (fresh off the grinder) cuts better - do we cut steak and bread with a honed edge, or a serrated one?
But that's me. I have a buddy that puts an edge on a skew that you can shave with and that is so highly polished as to be dangerous in bright sunlight. It sure makes beautiful, powdery, mini-micro-thin shavings - but I think my skews *cut* just as well, and we both have to sand for a finish in the end. In my mind, he is wasting a lot of turning time at his sharpening station... But he's happy and it's no skin off my nose.
So, I am a card-carrying member of TAOS* but realize that we're all different.
Thinking about it, a 120 grit ceramic stone just might be a good compromise between we tool-sharpeners and the tool-polishers out there. Maybe he's on to something
Cheers!
Gary (uses 80 and 100 grit Nortons)
* Turners Against Over Sharpening