Cleaning Arkansas stones

[Tjstampa]

I have a 20 year old set of Arkansas stones. I am wondering what is the best way to clean the swarf out of them. I have a set of diamond stones on order, but these were a gift from my wife.

 

[David Martin]

Tjstampa, welcome to the Maintenance Forum.
If it is just swarf cleaning they need and not out of level. You can use Comet and a wire brush, wet the stone, sprinkle some on, brush it in well and rinse (outdoors). After a couple applications of this method I'd have some lacquer thinner on hand. Dry the stone pour 7-8 drops
on scrub with the wire brush and wipe quickly. This stuff really cuts the gummed on swarf. You must wipe the stone before the lacquer dries. What grade Arkansas stones? Good luck, DM

 

[Tjstampa]

Corse medium and fine. The fine used to be white. The mediu, is a rust/broom. The corpse I ams sure is manmade grey.

Thanks for the advise.

 

[David Martin]

Ok, let me correct some things in this. First off a Arkansas white stone has always been a soft Arkansas a medium grit, around 600.
The rust / broom a khaki color stone is a Washita the most coarse stone at about 500 grit. Here you go, Dan's is a good site to become
educated on Arkansas stones and their grades. DM
https://www.danswhetstone.com/

 

[Eli Chaps]

Is it possible we're talking about silicon carbide and aluminum oxide stones here and not Arkansas?

 

[David Martin]

I doubt it but he should give us pictures of these stones if he wants an accurate assessment. DM

 

[Tjstampa]

I tried post pictures but they would not post. I don’t have a photo bucket account

 

[Tjstampa]

I tried post pictures but they would not post. I don’t have a photo bucket account

Also I found that they are washita stones
Just found the name one the bottom of the cradle

 

[David Martin]

Yes, that's what I would call them. Thank you for the pictures. DM

 

[David Martin]

Here you go stamp. This is a Washita I have, a 4"X 8" stone. A great size to work on. Notice the same khaki and brown spackled pattern with the pink vein, bottom stone. The middle stone is a translucent and the top a black hard. DM

 

[wade7575]

T Tjstampa if you try using Comet and it doesn't try Bar Keepers Friend powder and not the liquid version I find the liquid version for me only works if you let it go hard on the bottom and separate.

I use Bar Keepers Friend powder on my Venev stones and any other stone that builds up with swarf,BFK only needs to sit for a few seconds on a stone that has just been used and rubbed for about 8 seconds and your done,it's amazing at how well it works on a stone,I have tried before I knew about BFK and just used dish soap and it doesn't do a thing period.

I don't know how well the BFK will work on swarf that old but to maintain the stones it's perfect,I have tried Comet and Ajax in the past but the never worked for me.

 

[shinbone]

Another vote for Barkeepers Friend. I've had the best luck with applying the BKF, and then scrubbing with a green Scotchbrite.

 

[Tjstampa]

Used comet then after I rinsed and let it dry put a generous amount of mineral spirits.tthe wiped with clean rag and repeated until the rag came off clean. Not sure the pictures show how much cleaner they are. Thank you all for your advice

 

[David Martin]

Your stones look great now. Good job. Now you can get by with cleaning them with mineral oil after each use. Then if you see some build up of swarf use the lacquer thinner. Your stones look to be 2X8" a good size to work a knife on. DM

 

[David Martin]

Today I cleaned my India stone with oil and a wire brush and it didn't get it as clean as I wanted. So, I got a stiff bristle brush and used Comet
on it and this worked. Cleaned it up a step and it's ready for the next sharpening session. DM

 

[David Martin]

I'll try to find another photo of some Arkansas stones. There are 2 Washita stones in this, one on the left and one at the bottom. DM

 

[David Martin]

I have used a Washita stone to sharpen axes, hatchets and knife steels with steels like 420hc and up to 425M for the final stone. DM

 

[Tjstampa]

Mine are now ready to teach scouts how to sharpen their knives. My son and daughter volunteered me after they got the bug when they realized how sharp they can get their knives.

 

[David Martin]

Tj, the grey stone you mentioned, -- did you get it cleaned as well? That could be a crystolon. DM

 

[Tjstampa]

Not sure, but it is very course. It takes a lot of material off fast. I have only used it to repair large chips and nicks. I hit it mineral spirits and very little came off. Oil soaks right into it.