sharpening flex tools

#1 08-14-2003, 08:26 PM

???When using an Arkansas surgical black slipstone to sharpen flexcraft tools and micro tools. Do I need to use oil on the stone?
Water? Spit? (no kidding) was told that is what Hobos used??? and will it hurt the tools to just use water? If I must use oil-what kind? thanks

#2 08-14-2003, 09:07 PM

First off, you will not hurt your tools whether you use oil, water, or bodily fluids.

The liquids are used to 'float' the metal that is removed from the tools during sharpening.

On a new unused Arkansas you have your choice of fluids or you can even use it dry. But, once you use oil on it, you can't use it dry again.

If I was starting with a new surgical black Arkansas stone, I would use baby oil. It is cheap, available, smells good, is good for your skin, and will float metal dust just fine.

(To use a new Arkansas dry, you use an eraser to clean it)
This has benefits if you like to hike and carve.

#3 08-14-2003, 09:31 PM

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....we're supposed to SHARPEN our tools ? :-/

Teri :

#4 08-14-2003, 09:43 PM

Yes, unless you come to Seattle every few months.

#5 08-15-2003, 04:06 PM

Hmmmm...sounds like a much better plan. I kind of liked just kicking back in your backyard and chatting while you went to work sharpening all my tools! I could just consider it another 'tool' :-)

Teri

#6 08-15-2003, 06:24 PM

I learned using the saliva method has worked for over 50 years (just don't try it while chewing tobacco -- yuuuukkkkkk!). The thing with saliva is you've always got it with you.

Colin_Partridge · #7 08-16-2003, 10:31 PM

I'm with Teri although I can do a so so job of sharpening my tools I am certainly not good at it. When my knives and gouges get dull and honing wont bring back that edge I package them all up and take them to a fellow carver who can put the edge back on them in no time flat. It is an art to sharpen tools, as one old timer once told me 'Sharpening is the first part of the carving process'. Back to that fellow carver friend of mine he charges me $1.00 a tool and to me it is worth every cent.
Colin

AlArchie · #8 08-17-2003, 06:20 AM

Ed, is that saliva stuff the same as spit?

Al

#9 08-17-2003, 06:53 AM

It's saliva on Sat and Sun, spit during the week.

#10 08-17-2003, 09:46 AM

[quote author=AlArchie link=board=Beginner;num=1060910786;start=0#7 date=08/17/03 at 06:20:56]Ed, is that saliva stuff the same as spit?

Al[/quote]

'The spittin' image' :