Cleaning Frictionite w/ stones that came with it

[annr]

I bought a 00 Frictionite when I was a kid. I thought that this would be a good thing to sharpen my reed knives with. As time passed I went on to other stones.

Recently I discovered the stone in the bottom of my toolbox with the original instructions and 2 small stones used for cleaning the stone, one is dark grey and the other medium grey.

I am wondering:
How do I know if the stone needs cleaning? I haven't used it in 30+ years.
Which stone is to be used and in what manner? The Frictionite has 2 sides, each of different grit?
What do the cleaning stones do? How do they clean? Do they correct warping?, if these stones warp.

Ps I have only seen one other in my life, owned by one of my teachers whom I met years later.

 

[STR]

I have one. Also from my youth. The woman that invented the process for making those stones in Iowa died. When she died the recipe died with her. The company tried for many years to duplicate them. Unfortunately they were not able to figure out how she did it. These were man made using various grits and then press fitting them and baking. They are no longer available. Mostly they were popular with axes and wood and log chopping champs from what the dealers tell me.

These are double sided and they also came single sided and there were many different numbered types and grits apparently. I made a post about them both here and on the Knife Forums about a year maybe coming up on two years ago. I just don't recall. This was when the memory of my conversation was still fresh in my mind after speaking with the barber supply (American Hone Company) that I got my information from in Moravia Iowa where the stones were made. I found it using Google here. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-312488.html

As for cleaning them. Carbon will build up on the stone surface from use. You can use a kitchen scrubbinng pad like the scotch brite pads or some other more durable scrubber on these to clean it off. I've done so for years. In my experience these are only to be used for the final edge. I do know guys that used them otherwise but I have not had much luck with them.

If the stone is dished out I understand that using a side walk that is nice and smooth and flat will bring it back to a flat surface. It seems a shame to do that though somehow knowing that once its gone its gone.

STR

 

[annr]

Great story. Would you happen to know the grits on these? there are 2 grits on mine.

I've been reluctant to clean mine because I was afraid that I would ruin it. The only things that the instructions say are "Some barbers clean their Frictionite using pumice stone after several honings." and: "One factory has honed over 70,000 razors on one Frictionite without using a rub stone."

Are those 2 little cleaning stones pumice? One seems rougher than the other. I'm thinking that I will just use the rougher stone on the rougher side. does that seem right?

do you use water when cleaning?

I can try to scan and upload the instructions if you would like to see them, memoribilia by now.

 

[STR]

I would use the scouring pad and soap and water before abrading it with another stone. You can clean them off with fine pumice like used in rock tumblers also and that will work quite well.

The 00 is the finest grit one they made according to what I was told. Of the 'hot hones' it was the one that basically kept the company in business too from what I understand. Of the Sportsmans hones. I bought a few of those to have. I've used one. I can't say they do any better or worse than some that are already out there. The 00 though is a very fine grit. I don't know exactly what it is but it appears to put a finer edge on a blade than any other method short of stropping. I have used the finish side for years to do a strop motion on my wood carving knives and like the bite it brings right up on them. It only takes one to two swipes with even pressure on it with the stone. You can get the same results with stropping but it takes more swipes. It is probably finer to some degree also but that would depend on the grit of the polish or alumina you are using on the leather strop also. I know that barbers used the stone a lot. That is where my grandfather bought this one. Our town barber used to sell them.

STR