Cleaning a Norton Combination stone

[JD Spydo]

I like BKF and it is dead cheap. There is a kitchen supply outlet store nearby that carries it and I stock up on it when they have a sale. I had tried Comet with Sharpmaker stones and it got them mostly clean but BKF would get them back to like new. Works great on the sink, too, as well as with stainless pots and pans. It seems to have some agent that removes metal oxidation. I have tried the liquid version but prefer the powder.

They also had a Bar Keeper's Friend "Polish" here at the local stores for a while but they no longer offer it. And it was great stuff too. Nothing removes rust from surfaces better than BKF and it makes stainless literally look like it's factory new again.

Well the liquid BKF I've had great luck using it to soak stuff overnight with before I give them a thorough cleaning. If I ever find anything that cleans sharpening stones better than BKF I will start using it immediately. But I haven't found anything that works nearly as good as BKF does.

I've got an idea that I'm going to try this evening>> I'm going to use the liquid BAR KEEPER'S FRIEND just like you would use a honing oil on a ceramic stone. I'll keep you all posted as to what my results are. I'm interested in trying it out on ceramic stones in particular. Because up till now I've never used any lubricant or oil on ceramic stones. Oh well it's just something I'm going to try. Also I don't think Bar Keeper's Friend hurts the stones in any way I can tell.

 

[David Martin]

I have had very good results using lacquer thinner for cleaning real dirty stones. Pour a little on, scrub it with a wire brush and wipe. DM

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

They also had a Bar Keeper's Friend "Polish" here at the local stores for a while but they no longer offer it. And it was great stuff too. Nothing removes rust from surfaces better than BKF and it makes stainless literally look like it's factory new again.

Well the liquid BKF I've had great luck using it to soak stuff overnight with before I give them a thorough cleaning. If I ever find anything that cleans sharpening stones better than BKF I will start using it immediately. But I haven't found anything that works nearly as good as BKF does.

I've got an idea that I'm going to try this evening>> I'm going to use the liquid BAR KEEPER'S FRIEND just like you would use a honing oil on a ceramic stone. I'll keep you all posted as to what my results are. I'm interested in trying it out on ceramic stones in particular. Because up till now I've never used any lubricant or oil on ceramic stones. Oh well it's just something I'm going to try. Also I don't think Bar Keeper's Friend hurts the stones in any way I can tell.

Just curious, are you planning on using the BKF as a honing lubricant? If so, just be aware the oxalic acid in BKF will dissolve steel (iron and oxides of iron, specifically), and even stainless steel (think: etching). It's the reason BKF works so effectively to clean swarf from ceramic hones, and also why it's used for removing rust; it literally dissolves it. Taking it too far in time of exposure (beyond a minute or two), it'll also start to eat the steel as well. It likely won't hurt the ceramic hone itself, but you might end up with a lot more corrosion/etching of your blade than you want or need. BKF recommends rinsing it off thoroughly within 1 MINUTE of application, else 'discoloration' of metals, i.e., oxidation or etching, may be the result.

If the goal is just to keep the ceramic from loading up, simple honing oil will do that very well. I've tried that with mine (Spyderco DoubleStuff, Fallkniven DC4), and it keeps the ceramic cutting without loading up, and cleans up very easily with dish soap & warm/hot water. And no worries about damaging your blade's steel either.


David

 

[JD Spydo]

Just curious, are you planning on using the BKF as a honing lubricant? If so, just be aware the oxalic acid in BKF will dissolve steel (iron and oxides of iron, specifically), and even stainless steel (think: etching). It's the reason BKF works so effectively to clean swarf from ceramic hones, and also why it's used for removing rust; it literally dissolves it. Taking it too far in time of exposure (beyond a minute or two), it'll also start to eat the steel as well. It likely won't hurt the ceramic hone itself, but you might end up with a lot more corrosion/etching of your blade than you want or need. BKF recommends rinsing it off thoroughly within 1 MINUTE of application, else 'discoloration' of metals, i.e., oxidation or etching, may be the result.

If the goal is just to keep the ceramic from loading up, simple honing oil will do that very well. I've tried that with mine (Spyderco DoubleStuff, Fallkniven DC4), and it keeps the ceramic cutting without loading up, and cleans up very easily with dish soap & warm/hot water. And no worries about damaging your blade's steel either.

Hey thanks for the input OWE>> It was just a really wild idea, deranged thought that I really didn't think about before I printed it Yeah it was the loading of the metal filings in the stone that I was trying to prevent. I've always used my Spyderco Ceramic stones dry up till now I'll try the regular honing oil and see how it works. There is so much conflicting information on how to use benchstones that you sometimes just want to experiment>> yeah and I probably experiment too much