[slivers&dust]

I have a question regarding conditioning the leather honing wheel on the Tormek.

I have read here on the forum that some of you use mineral oil to condition the leather when it’s new and also (if I remember right because I can’t find it in a search) too rejuvenate the compound or something like that. When I was at Woodcraft their leather on the demo Tormek was very smooth and black where mine is, well kind of fuzzy. I imagine that being a demo it get a ton of use but the clerk also said to use mineral oil on it. Now I should have grilled him more about that but being the first time I was in a Woodcraft store it was hard to keep my attention…kind of like a kid in a toy store.

I would like to know why, when and how to do this as the books I have on the machine don’t cover it anywhere. Also How much and how often do you apply the honing compound to the leather and should I be using the same compound on the smaller profile wheel? So far I’ve only used a hard white stick of stuff I got years ago on it.

Anyway any help here would be appriciated…thanks in advance.

[Bob_in_TN]

Tony, here's my take on this!

I have heard the fellow that demo's the Tormek at woodworking shows say to use mineral oil. That said, I got home after buying one and wondered, now where do I get mineral oil. Before I strained my little brain too long, I thought back to when we had horses on the farm and my Dad would dress the harness's with Neet's Foot oil to keep them pliable. Found some at the local hardware, and have been using it ever since. How often you ask, well when ever I think they may be getting a little dry, I apply more. The little wheel on the side soaks up more than the big wheel.

I've only used the compound that Tormek sells in the tube. I reapply when I no longer get the results I want, in the time I want to spend.

Hope this helps, if you have more question, ask. I always TRY to help.
Bob

[slivers&dust]

Thanks Bob,

I found this Tormek users group
http://www.sharptoolsusa.com/yabbse/index.php#1
lots of great help there.

some of the info I gathered was to use the mineral oil for break-in to condition the leather on both the honing wheel and profile wheel. From what I gather they suggest saturating the leather for the initial break-in but be carefull adding to much down the road as it is not good unless the leather is getting dry from nonuse.

They also suggest applying the honing compound every 2-3 tools

thanks again

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

You can get mineral oil at any drugstore.....I don't and haven't put any on either my Burke or my strops...for compound I have been using mostly the green aluminum oxide....I also have some of the flexcut gold. The hard white, I have from some leather working and I don't use it on power, but it works great on a piece of bond paper for a strop!

[slivers&dust]

thanks...I have the mineral oil just wasn't sure how much to use...


now I'm trying to figure out how to apply it evenly without making a big mess

[mdallensr]

Sliver, my bottle of mineral oil had a tamper-proof seal that I punctured with a nail. That allows the oil to drip slowly. It will take a lot of oil to condition a new wheel, but later it will only take a couple of drops to keep it slick. Run the wheel, drip on the oil, then let it soak and spread itself for a while. BTW, the other big feature of mineral oil is that it won't go bad (rancid). Mike

[squbrigg]

Try a brush, like spreading glue on a board, just rotate the wheel by hand, brushing the oil on as it rotates. I would expect it to fly every which way if you powered it up, until it soaks in.

Bob

[slivers&dust]

Thanks guys for the help.

I’m almost finished with the Native American Mask carving I’ve been working on so after that I will be taking the tools to the Tormek for some sharpening…and practice for me.