Cleaner for Sharpmaker?

T

ThreeWorlds

Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
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What's a good abrasive cleaner for the sharpmaker rods? I'm having trouble finding abrasive cleaner in general in the local convenience, do I need to make a special trip out to a hardware store to find one?
 
Dear ThreeWorlds,

United Cutlery produces an item called a Super Eraser. It's basically a rubber block with a light abrasive imbedded in it. I use it for cleaning my crock-stick sets as well as my Spyderco Sharpmaker rods. It's also useful for cleaning light rust from steel items, but if you use it on a bright mirror finish it will leave scratches that you'll have to buff out after to restore the polish. It's about the size of a small pocket sharpening stone, but it lasts a long time! After 20 years I'm only using my second one! They're priced at a modest $5. Next to the Sharpmaker and the Crock-Sticks, I think they are one of the best values on the market today.

Are you aware of the Chesapeake Knife Show coming up on 10 Dec 06? It's held at the Holiday Inn Select in Timonium, Maryland. Details can be found at www.knifeshows.com. Maybe I'll see you there!

Best wishes for the Holiday Season.

Wolfsknives
 
dish soap and the abrasive side of the wifes dish sponge. quick and sparkle clean.
 
Agreed Ajax,or Comet works good just wet your hand sprinkle a little in your hand make a slurry and wash your stones with it.
 
I like the dry methods because you can clean during a sharpening session without having to run to a sink. You can even clean the stone surfaces without disassembling.

By the way, I've noticed that I can get a much sharper edge using freshly cleaned stones.
 
When I clean my 204 Sharpmaker stones or any of my sharpening stones for that matter I go the extra mile. First of all I soak them in hot dishwashing soapy water. Then I take Ajax or a cleanser comparable to it and really scrub them. Then I rinse them off and I take a chemical cleanser called "Bar Keeper's Friend" and give them a final scrub and rinse with BKF.

And let me tell you it really pays off because it really cleans every last trace of metal out of them and they really abrade very nicely when I clean them that way. Now I am saying that some of the methods that these good brothers have suggested aren't good too because they probably are. But I know what I do makes them just like new again. It really doesn't take as much time as you would think either.

I need to try that eraser method because I have heard good stuff about it. I am always open to a newer/easier way but so far the way I do it makes them just like new. Good Luck
 
JD, I think the ereaser method is going to leave you unsatisfied. The Eraser will not make your stones look like new. Of course before you're done soaking your stones, I'll be done sharpening my knives. It's a trade off.
 
JD, Please e-mail me your shipping address so I can get my stones out to you pronto. How much do you charge per stone? You do offer the cleaning service don't you?:D
 
sevenedges said:
JD, Please e-mail me your shipping address so I can get my stones out to you pronto. How much do you charge per stone? You do offer the cleaning service don't you?:D
Click to expand...

Yeah I know you guys probably do think that I'm "BATS" for going to all the trouble that I go through to clean my sharpening stones. And to some degree maybe it is a bit of overkill. But let me tell you when I get my stones out to work with them the abrading is very consistent and the stones just work like a dream.

Now do keep in mind that I do not clean them after every sharpening. They are pretty noticibly gunked up by the time I get the cleansers out. And it really doesn't take that long. I can get all my 204 stones, all of my 701 Profiles and usually I have about 6 different benchstones. And when I do the whole group it usually takes me between 15 to 22 minutes. And the results are well worth it.

Now I am going to get one of those erasers because I bet they are the way to go when you need to clean your stones in the field. I bet there is a solution you could soak stones in that would probably get a lot of it done that way. But do at least try the "BAR KEEPER's FRIEND" That stuff does deep cleaning better than any cleanser I've ever used.
 
Sal says just use comet or ajax and green scrub pad not sure what hot water will do to the stones. us a green scrub pad and soft scub with bleach works great for me but i use cold water :thumbup:
 
I've found Bar Keepers Friend and a green Scotchbrite pad work better than with Comet or Ajax. Comet and Ajax worked, but they did not leave my 204 rods spotless. Bar Keepers Friend required a lot less elbow grease to get them spotless. I use either hot or cold water, no noticeable difference.
It does get bothersome having to keep washing the rods, so I mostly use a Pink Pet pencil eraser to 'unclog' the rods when I'm in the middle of a sharpening session and wash at the sink once the eraser method doesn't seem to work anymore. YMMV
 
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