Cleaning sharpening stones.

Bar Keepers Friend, Fun Facts
Bar Keepers Friend​

Q: Is Bar Keepers Friend hazardous? :confused:

A: No, Bar Keepers Friend contains no hazardous chemicals.
Bar Keepers Friend is an environmentally safe product.:)


Clean the inside and outside of a stainless steel keg
using Scotch Brite pad and ...Bar Keepers Friend.;)

BLOOD STAIN: You betcha.:)
Soak in cold water for approximately a half hour. If stain remains, use JUST 'N TIME or soak in lukewarm ammonia water (3 tablespoons of household ammonia per gallon of water). On thick fabrics, spread stain with paste of cornstarch and water. Let dry and brush off.

Q:Where can I find Bar Keeepers Friend Toilet Bowl Cleaner? :barf:

A:The Owner of the company has decided to no longer manufacture Bar Keepers Friend Toilet Bowl Cleaner. We suggest you try Bar Keepers Friend Lime and Rust Remover. :)

C1
 
Well I bought some yesterday and I'm trying it, I got some of the roughness back but I still have some to do! I think ill work on them again very soon. I have a question, does it help if you use honing oil while sharpening knives? Thanks!

-Zach
 
Oil is only needed on Arkansas stones or like oil stones.
 
zach2556 said:
Well I bought some yesterday and I'm trying it, I got some of the roughness back but I still have some to do! I think ill work on them again very soon. I have a question, does it help if you use honing oil while sharpening knives? Thanks!

-Zach
Click to expand...

Some use them dry, or with water, or with oil. Most of it is personal preference, but with waterstones you should use water, and Arkansan stones you could use water or oil.
 
Josh K said:
Some use them dry, or with water, or with oil. Most of it is personal preference, but with waterstones you should use water, and Arkansan stones you could use water or oil.
Click to expand...

I don't know if mine are waterstones or what?
 
Barkeeper's friend contains oxalic acid, and is similar in performance to Cameo Stainless and Aluminum Cleaner, which contains sulfamic acid. The acids attack the small metallic particles in the stone (or the rust spots in the sink) and loosen them so they can be washed away.

Neither BKF nor Cameo will work as well if the stone's loaded with oil. In that case, use a 2 step approach.

1. Use laquer thinner, lighter fluid, acetone, brake cleaner, Berryman Chemtool, etc as a solvent to remove the oil...exposing the metal particles for step two...

2. Use Cameo or BKF. apply liberally as a wet slurry and let sit for a couple of hours...then scrub with an old toothbrush. Rinse and repeat #2, as necessary.

BTW, the oxalic acid in BKF is more toxic than the sulfamic in Cameo, but neither contain high acid concentrations.
BKF MSDS: http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/BKF_MSDS_01_09.pdf
Cameo MSDS: http://www2.itap.purdue.edu/MSDS/docs/3733.pdf

I'd use Cameo, and it wouldn't hurt to use rubber gloves.
 
zach2556 said:
I don't know if mine are waterstones or what?
Click to expand...

Trust me, you'd know if they were waterstones. Whatever instructions you got would have said keep them soaked in water.

If it's a random stone you picked up or found then a picture would probably help in identifying it.
 
Good info.Flashlife.I think thats the proper steps.Some oils can wash out easily.The oil type stones are; Norton India,Norton Crystolon, Arkansas stones and the hardware grey carborundum stones are usually twin grit.Zach just describe them I think we could get close. Norton stones will have their name on it with a lettering code.DM
 
David Martin said:
Good info.Flashlife.I think thats the proper steps.Some oils can wash out easily.The oil type stones are; Norton India,Norton Crystolon, Arkansas stones and the hardware grey carborundum stones are usually twin grit.Zach just describe them I think we could get close. Norton stones will have their name on it with a lettering code.DM
Click to expand...

Thanks,
I guess an M.S. chemistry degree helps...along with 35 yrs as an engineer. :)

Generally if you've got a material which is dirty with both oil and grime, remove the oil first with a solvent, so the later water wash will penetrate and remove the dirt/grime.
Also, lacquer thinner, acetone, and denatured alcohol, will remove oils and are themselves water soluble so you don't even have to worry about removing every bit of solvent from the stone before going to a water/Cameo/BKF wash.
Lighter fluid is not water soluble, so dry it off the stone thoroughly before going to the Cameo/BKF.

JUST DON'T mix BKF or Cameo with Comet or any chlorinated cleanser. The chlorine and the acids will produce Cl2 gas and/or other nasty, choking, toxic fumes.

Lastly, Cameo on a wet Scotchbrite pad will do an excellent job of cleaning the metal residue from ceramic rods.
 
Since we're on the subject, I have a question about Bar Keepers Friend. Since it is an acid and works on the metal, will it cause any loosening of the diamond particles on a DMT stone? I've been thinking of trying it, but I've held off because of that question.
 
dawsonbob said:
Since we're on the subject, I have a question about Bar Keepers Friend. Since it is an acid and works on the metal, will it cause any loosening of the diamond particles on a DMT stone? I've been thinking of trying it, but I've held off because of that question.
Click to expand...

Don't know that one, but it seems plausible. I'd send the MSDS links to DMT and ask them.
BKF MSDS: http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/BKF_MSDS_01_09.pdf
Cameo MSDS: http://www2.itap.purdue.edu/MSDS/docs/3733.pdf

Since diamond sharpeners are usually not as porous (?) as other abrasive stones, it may be enough to simply scrub with a de-greaser (Lac Thinner, lighter fluid, etc) then use soap and water.
 
Condition 1 said:
Bar Keepers Friend, Fun Facts
Bar Keepers Friend​

Q: Is Bar Keepers Friend hazardous? :confused:

A: No, Bar Keepers Friend contains no hazardous chemicals.
Bar Keepers Friend is an environmentally safe product.:)
...
Click to expand...

Not exactly what their own MSDS says:
MSDS Excerpt:

"Section 2. Composition and Information on Ingredients
------Name--------CAS #---% by Weight--- Exposure Limits: TLV/PEL
1. OXALIC ACID __144-62-7 ___5-10______TWA: 1 STEL: 2 (mg/m3) from ACGIH (TLV) TWA: 1 (mg/m3) from OSHA (PEL)

Section 3. Hazards Identification
Emergency Overview WARNING: HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Contains oxalic acid. Irritating to eyes. Do not mix with chlorine type bleach or other household chemicals. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN."...

But...not overly nasty either. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top