[hruukki]

Hi, I've been meaning to ask this for some time: can regular gas station good quality motor oil used with oilstones for sharpening? It's mineral oil, so it seems to stand to reason. If not, why so?

Thanks in advance!

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

It will work, but .... remember it's a lubricant so it will help your tool slide over the stone. It's best to use cutting oil, it's designed for the purpose. If you have a new stone you can use water or if your a neandrathal like me spit (not recommended if your chewing tobacco). The main pupose of a liquid on the stone is to float the used particles off so the stone does not become clogged.

[hruukki]

All right, thanks - I'll try the motor oil and if it works fine I'll let you know.

[AlArchie]

OK, I'll stir this pot up a bit.......I've never really quite understood the concept that oil on an oil stone "floats" the metal particles away and keeps the stone from clogging.

As many oil stones as I've gone through, (dozens over the years) what I've found is that no matter how much oil I pour on, it almost immediately soaks into the stone, leaving a lubricated surface. I've used cutting oil, motor oil, 3 in One Oil, WD-40 and just about everything except STP, and it ALL soaks in like that.

I used to work in a diesel engine repair shop and did precision valve grinding, and the only way to keep those high priced wheels from clogging was to keep a constant flow of water soluble cutting oil running over the the valve and stone while grinding..

I also have a reciprocating water stone sharpener and it too requires a constand supply of water flowing over it, not for cooling, but to get rid of the debris.

My question is,"how the heck do you get enough oil on a hand used oil stone to actually "float off the debris"?"

I've also used "oil stones" dry, and have found it easier to remove the debris by simply washin or rinsing with plain water, than those used with oil.

Al

[btree50]

From what I was taught by my dad, when you first get an oil stone, you are supposed to immerse it in oil. Leave it stay there awhile so as to saturate the stone. My dad kept his stones in an old coffee can because of the oil in them, it could be messy to say the least. Then when he applied oil while sharpening, the particles would in fact float away.
Not saying this is right or wrong, just what my dad taught me, and you know dads are always right.

[AlArchie]

Yep, I've soaked 'em first, too, but never stored them in an oil bath......guess that would have worked, but like you said "a bit messy". Guess that answered my question.

Al

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Al, I had one stone where the oil stayed on top and did float away particles, and another stone that soaked up oil like a huge sponge. Maybe the quality of the stone has something to do with it. I bought a water stone not to long ago and that is all I use now.

Dave

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I can't say, because I've never used oil of any sort on an oil stone. I just spit on them. Seems to stay in place better than plain water. Handier too. Never done it any other way. It's the way I was showed as a kid by the lumberjacks. Who knows, might not even be necessary, but I do it anyway. Very old habits die hard.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Ed, when I bought one of my oil stone at Woodcraft I remember the guy telling me that if you don't put oil on the stone, you could just use water or better yet spit, I should have listened.

Dave
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[cats pa]

Originally Posted by Plain_Ol_Ed

I can't say, because I've never used oil of any sort on an oil stone. I just spit on them.

I bet when you sharpen a knife for a teenage girl, that just grosses her out somethin' fierce (heh, heh). 'Course, not as many teenage girls carry knives these days...

Btree's post about his dad reminds me of "Pa", my grandfather. In the 60's, as a little kid, I followed him around in his shop and watched him build and fix things and tried to stay out of his way. His getting along with people and social skills were a resounding 0.00, but Lord, the things that man could fix!

Anyway, he had coarse stones that he would soak down with a mixture of used motor oil and gasoline, I think about 50/50. His fine stones he always spit on. When he had the stones out I would take my little Barlow knife and try to rub it around on them like he did, but seldom got it right. I remember one time I snuck into the shop and got down the stones and tried it by myself for a while. Then I put them back real careful and snuck back out again. Amazingly, he never noticed, and I didn't get a whipping. That time.

But his knives were always wicked sharp, and I'd play with them and get them dull. Then I'd take a swat or two.

Parker