Water Or Oil With A Whetstone?

[RoosterShooter]

http://www.danswhetstone.com/

He makes the absolute BEST Arkansas Whetstones in the business. There are actually several large companies that remarket his products. His brand of honing oil will clean your stones while they are being used, and never 'load up'!

I have used both water and oil on different types of stones for the past 20 years! To make it even more confusing ... there is a 'Best Way' to sharpen any tool, and they aren't always the same!

For instance, on all of my woodworking tools, axes, and Ulu blades, for either hide prep or kitchen use, I use my Jet Wet Sharpener. If I'm sharpening a kitchen cutting utensil or my pocket knives I use an Arkansas Whetstone with oil. I start with a Hard Fine and end with a Translucent (Ultra Fine). This results in a blade that will slice a ripe tomato with very little effort.

Hope that helps.

Edit: I forgot to mention that he will also do custom cuts! He has several 'Stone Files' that I use for various gunsmithing projects listed in his 'Stone Files' section. Norton actually buys his 'inferior' or 'factory second' stones and remarkets them as their own! He will also do custom cuts to your specs. He owns and operates on top of one of the last Novaculite quarries in the US.

Arkansas stones aren't cheap, but it's like everything else. You get what you pay for. With a carborundum or Aluminum stone you get a cheap stone that the masses use to sharpen tools, but with Arkansas stones you get an heirloom quality stone that will outlast you if it is treated properly.

Edited October 13, 2012 by RoosterShooter

[DoubleC]

Have a look at this link Cheryl.

http://en.wikipedia....harpening_stone

I read the information Kevin, I'm learning more about whetstones than I thought I would ever know :-) That article says I can use water, oil, or nothing. Which is about what's been said here. I have a man made carborundum stone. So I guess it will be water since I happen to actually live in a house with plumbing but no mineral oil. Thanks Kev. Cheryl

[lwm803]

I don't know what is "right" or "wrong" but I have been using whet stones for over 50 years. As a honing fluid I have used spit, burnt motor oil, machine oil, honing oil whatever is handy. In spite of the fact that I may not have ever used an "acceptable" honing fluid I have always managed to have a shaving sharp blade on my pocket knives. There is no need to over think it, if the stone loads up a bit of dish washing detergent will clean it just fine, and the type of stone or fluid used has much less to do with the outcome than the experience and skill of the operator. Honing guides such as the Lansky system, etc. are tailor made for those who do not care to develop those skills, just as a digital camera comes to the rescue of those of us who are totally useless with a canvas, brush and paint...

[DoubleC]

http://www.danswhetstone.com/

He makes the absolute BEST Arkansas Whetstones in the business. There are actually several large companies that remarket his products. His brand of honing oil will clean your stones while they are being used, and never 'load up'!

I have used both water and oil on different types of stones for the past 20 years! To make it even more confusing ... there is a 'Best Way' to sharpen any tool, and they aren't always the same!

For instance, on all of my woodworking tools, axes, and Ulu blades, for either hide prep or kitchen use, I use my Jet Wet Sharpener. If I'm sharpening a kitchen cutting utensil or my pocket knives I use an Arkansas Whetstone with oil. I start with a Hard Fine and end with a Translucent (Ultra Fine). This results in a blade that will slice a ripe tomato with very little effort.

Hope that helps.

Edit: I forgot to mention that he will also do custom cuts! He has several 'Stone Files' that I use for various gunsmithing projects listed in his 'Stone Files' section. Norton actually buys his 'inferior' or 'factory second' stones and remarkets them as their own! He will also do custom cuts to your specs. He owns and operates on top of one of the last Novaculite quarries in the US.

Arkansas stones aren't cheap, but it's like everything else. You get what you pay for. With a carborundum or Aluminum stone you get a cheap stone that the masses use to sharpen tools, but with Arkansas stones you get an heirloom quality stone that will outlast you if it is treated properly.

At this point my man made whetstone will probably outlast me Rooster. I'd rather have a few heirloom quality tools before I have a stone but I did read about the superiority of using natural stones. But I just bought a man made set so I'm going to give it a try. thanks for the info though. Cheryl

[DoubleC]

Thanks LWM, I'll admit I have no experience using these at all. I'd like to learn how though because I honestly like learning new things. I just hope I don't destroy all my tools learning! Cheryl

[RoosterShooter]

At this point my man made whetstone will probably outlast me Rooster. I'd rather have a few heirloom quality tools before I have a stone but I did read about the superiority of using natural stones. But I just bought a man made set so I'm going to give it a try. thanks for the info though. Cheryl

Sorry, I didn't notice that. It was before my first morning coffee.

At any rate ... you want to use some sort of honing oil. If not, the stone will 'load up' with material. Better explained, you will get all of the pores clogged with metal debris, and it will inhibit the stones ability to sharpen.

However, even with oil you will need to 'clean' your stone from time to time. The easiest way to do this on carb (man made) stones is to use soap, warm water, and a good stiff kitchen scrub brush. I've found the green or dark blue scrub brushes work best. The white bristles are only good for lightly cleaning kitchenware.

When you clean the stone ... work the soap and water in a circular motion while running under warm tap water. This helps dislodge most of the debris. After you are finished let the stone air dry, and reapply oil. Always keep a stone oiled or it will both deteriorate the life of the stone and lose it's sharpening ability.

In using the oil you are, in essence, creating a tiny barrier so that the material being removed will wick away from the stone instead of settle into the pores. You want a good synthetic oil like 'Dan's Honing Oil'. You can find it here .... http://www.sharpenin...Oil-P289C2.aspx or at Dan's Whetstones.

The only reason I preach Dan's products is because they are the best I've found. I am in no way affiliated with his company, but am a long time, and very satisfied customer.

Hope that helps.

Edited October 13, 2012 by RoosterShooter

[DoubleC]

Yes it does, it helps a lot. Thanks Rooster. Cheryl

[lwm803]

When I was 6 or 7 years old my grandfather gave me a pocket knife and a small whet stone (which he called an "oil stone") for my birthday. When my next birthday came around he presented me with a box of band aids. I reckon my sharpening skills had advanced more quickly than my knife handling skills....LOL In showing me how to sharpen my knife he walked over to the tractor removed the oil dipstick from the engine, dripped a bit of the oil on the hinge pin of the pocket knife, and wiped the rest of the oil off of the dipstick onto his finger then smeared it on that brand spanking new stone. Until I joined the Air Force and left home I used oil from the tractor's dipstick when sharpening my knife. Had to find an alternative after that as the USAF did not keep many tractors around in the 60's. I'm not recommending anything here, just passing on a fond memory which this thread brought to mind.

[DoubleC]

Up until the year my uncle died, he came around to all the family once a year with his whetstone and sharpened everyone's knives. This has brought back some fond memories for me to LWM. Thanks for reminding me of that. Cheryl

[Tree Reaper]

I have a man made carborundum stone.

Contact Carborundum

Inquiries about Carborundum Products

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Edited October 13, 2012 by Tree Reaper