Water Or Oil With A Whetstone?

[DoubleC]

Thanks Kevin. I'll email them although I'm not sure I can explain any of that. One is rough one is fine, LOL. No instructions came with them, they just came in a plastic package and on the top right corner it says finest quality silicon carbide. Perfect for general sharpening of hand tools and cutlery. It doesn't have a grit or any kind of instructions with them. Maybe I should call Kevin at SLC or any of those folks and ask them what to do with the daggone things. It's made by Sterling. I'm not sure another company would look so forward to servicing my abrasive needs if it's not their stones. But I'll try SLC and this company both on Monday.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Use whatever you have on hand to lubricate the stone. The main purpose to to keep the stone from plugging up. With a Carborundum stone a thick oil will probably work best, as they are pretty porous. My friend leaves his stones in a tray full of lamp oil. I use cutting oil from the machines on my stones at work (I am a tool maker). When I get done with the stone I wipe it off to get most of the particles off of it. When I am using one on the lathe I keep the stone flushed with oil. As I see it getting too dark, or loading up I scrub it down in one of the solvent tanks. You are grinding off small metal particles with a porous surface, so you need something to keep the particles in suspension instead of just getting pushed into the stone. Vegetable oil, olive oil, liquid soap, spit, ,,, pretty much any liquid will work.

Edited October 13, 2012 by BIGGUNDOCTOR

[DoubleC]

Thanks Big, I think I'm starting to get the idea here of what you need the liquid for and that it needs to stay in the same 'family.' Either use oils all the time or use water based liquid. actually from reading this I'm not sure even that's what's been said, that as long as you keep it clean you can pretty much use anything. Cheryl

[Art]

Hi Cheryl,

There's Mineral Oil at the Drug Store, Transmission or Hydraulic Fluid at Auto Zone, NAPA, etc., Soapy Water in the kitchen; they all work. Oil your tools after using water. This skill is not a hard one to learn, and there are a few videos out there. In a short time you become very good at it.

Art

[DoubleC]

I saw a CS Osborne video where he used a whetstone to sharpen an oblong punch and strap end punch which is what I'm going to sharpen. I'm also going to try to sharpen the two punches I use from my set that I use for the end holes. I just walked in from the drugstore and never thought about looking for oil. I'm on my was back to get some to oil the tools after. Thanks Art. Cheryl

[Tree Reaper]

Best in our opinion with honing oil. When purchased new, some people

will use water.

Let me now if I may be of additional assistance.

Best Regards,

Darren

Darren Walker

Customer Service

SharpeningSupplies.Com

[DoubleC]

Thanks Kevin but I did do them with soapy water at the kitchen sink. They are slick as a whistle now, can't believe the difference. Might have been even sharper with oil I don't know. But they did a good job on the strap. Unfortunately I mixed up the order of the layout and may have to do it all over but will see what Duane says after I dye it....getting ready to start right now. But thank you for contacting them for me. As soon as I can get some mineral oil I'll switch. Cheryl

[Tree Reaper]

I admit I have used both water and oil but now I just use 3 in1 oil on carborundum.

My expensive wet stones that I use on planer blades and chisels only use water.

[DoubleC]

Yeah, read up on the wet stones. I can get 3 in one and use it to oil the tools afterward. I'm surprised these turned out as well as they did since it was my first try so maybe they'll even be better with oil. It even did a good job on my round punches. I'm glad I got the set finally. Thanks for all your help Kevin. Cheryl

[SooperJake]

I recommend Leonard Lee's "A Complete Guide to Sharpening". About $15 or so from Amazon. Money well spent.

Jake