Proper oil to use when using oilstones?

[Kevin Blunt]

Hey guys,
Quick question. I am about to do some initial shaping of some older plane irons and am going to be using a carborundum medium/coarse oilstone. What is the proper oil to use with this? I am thinking about trying mineral oil because I think I read that was the best oil to use somewhere before. Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks a bunch.

[Ken Werner]

I don't know about proper, but kerosene works quite well. Just a little drip will do.

Ken

[Kevin Blunt]

Kerosene? Interesting. My thought is that it would evaporate while you are using it. I assume you have done it and like you said it works well so I'll take your word for it. Kerosene doesn't have any lubricating qualities does it?

Kevin

[Ken Werner]

It doesn't evaporate too quickly, is rather light and thin, so there's no issues with the viscosity of the oil slowing you down. I think it is a good lubricant, but I could be wrong there. And yes, it is what I use when I use an oil stone. [But my main honing system is a Norton waterstone].

[Kevin Blunt]

Hi again Ken,

I too, use waterstones for actual sharpening (1000/4000) but like I said, I just want to do some shaping before honing. I like your idea with the Kerosene because it is nice and light and wouldn't clog up the pores of the stone like some thicker oils might. I am doing some shaping tonight so I'll relay my thoughts after I try it.

Kevin

[Brent Smith]

Kerosene does have a slight lubricating property to it, but using it alone causes the stones to clog up faster than using it in a mix with an oil. The kerosene acts to thin the oil down to get a better cutting action from the stone. Years ago I used just kerosene also but found that by using oil-kerosene in a 2-1 ratio I got the best of both worlds. Quicker cutting and good flow of the steel from the stone.

[Kevin Blunt]

Awe damn Brent!

Now you got me thinkin twice about what to use:confused: . I guess that the beauty of opinion though:) . thanks guys for your responses.

[John Buzzurro]

I use Norton honing oil (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=33016&cat=1,43072).

[Al Willits]

When I don't have a bottle of approved honing oil around, I've been known to use 20-50 motor oil and WD-40, does well on knife blades.
Not sure how it'd work on wood working blades.

Al who likes Kendal GT the best.... and also has 3 cases of it left from racing...:)

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I use just about anything. Mineral oil Motor oil milti voscosity oil, 3-in-1 oil, auto transmission fluid; seriously I use whatever is ready to hand. I have had the same stones for over 30 years and they are all fine.

[Bob Noles]

I have used 3 in 1 all my life and had good results with it.

[Kevin Blunt]

sorry to throw a curveball at this post but what is the best way to flatten an oilstone? Thanks again for all your wisdom.

[Brent Smith]

Lee Valley's coarse lapping grit on a piece of plate glass does the job.

[Kyle Kraft]

You can also simply rub two oilstone against each other. In the past, I used to true them up on a surface grinder, carefully using hold-downs to secure it to the magnetic chuck.

[Frank Fusco]

Ditto Cliff on the 'just about anything'. Heavier oils will make the stone saturated and require cleaning. But, just about anything will work. You might want to ask the Neanderthals. I think they use dinosauer fat.