Don Carkhuff
02-17-2005, 3:47 PM
I have been re-reading old issues of Woodwork. Issue #38, April 1996 has an article about sharpening stones and honing fluids. 2 different representatives that manufacture stones were interviewed. They both concured that using water on an oil stones is fine. Norton was one rep and Smith abrasives (arkansas stone) was the other. The only exception to this are stoned that are pre-filled with oil at the factory. These stones however are usually only sold to industry. Stones for the homecraftsman and sold in blister packs are not pre-filled.
A quote, "the fluid's only function is to keep the metal particles and fractured abrasive in suspendion so they can be washed away. The last thing we want is to lubricate. We want friction and abrasive."
This article sure comes as a complete surprise to me. I wonder why they are called "oil stones". Even the manufactures don't recommend oil, yet they sell honing oil????
The article said that you can wash your present stones in strong detergent and/or dishwasher to get rid of any oil you have used in the past. As long as the water wets the stone and doesn't just bead up on the surface, it will work as a cutting fluid.
Have any of you routinely used water as a honing fluid?
Don
A quote, "the fluid's only function is to keep the metal particles and fractured abrasive in suspendion so they can be washed away. The last thing we want is to lubricate. We want friction and abrasive."
This article sure comes as a complete surprise to me. I wonder why they are called "oil stones". Even the manufactures don't recommend oil, yet they sell honing oil????
The article said that you can wash your present stones in strong detergent and/or dishwasher to get rid of any oil you have used in the past. As long as the water wets the stone and doesn't just bead up on the surface, it will work as a cutting fluid.
Have any of you routinely used water as a honing fluid?
Don