India Stone cleaning

[Robert Ptacek]

Is it safe to use Barkeepers Friend to clean an India stone or will it effect the binder?

 

[Steve Danielewicz]

My late grandfather, who was a gunsmith used Hoppes and it never affected them so I wouldn’t think it would hurt. I usually just use a soft wire brush and wipe clean.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Is it safe to use Barkeepers Friend to clean an India stone or will it effect the binder?

It'll be fine with the BKF. Can clean most any stone with it, without issues. The oxalic acid in BKF works mainly on iron or oxides of iron, which is just right for cleaning steel swarf from stones.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

One thing to check if it is flat, if not, use some silicon carbide grit, like what the stone polishers use, and some flat glass and sprinkle down a little of the grit, a little goes a long way. Then spray water on the grit and rub the stone down against the glass and grit, it is quite loud process so be aware of that. You can use a pencil and mark over the stone to see if you are getting all of it flattened out.

carbide grit by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Then, once you reached a flattened stone it should be good to start sharpening with it. Then after you are done sharpening, I use some lighter fluid rubbed onto the stone which will bring up the deposits that the sharpening left in the stone, and then wash off the stone and you're ready for the next sharpening.

On ceramic stones I'll use the barkeepers friend to clean out deposits

travel kit by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2

 

[Papilio]

What grit (loose silicone carbide powder) do you use to flatten your (India) stones?

I like the profile stone set shown in the image above. 2024 a new set will be available (adding a CBN stone). Sadly very expensive.

 

[Robert Ptacek]

Thanks guys for your comments.Feel free to keep them coming.Thank You.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

What grit (loose silicone carbide powder) do you use to flatten your (India) stones?

It has been a while since I bought that but I think it was 180 grit
G2

 

[Papilio]

It has been a while since I bought that but I think it was 180 grit
G2

Thanks.

BKF is stronger than other abrasive household cleansers like Comet or Ajax (as far as I know). I know that you asked specifically about BKF. Is there any benefit of using BKF to clean an India stone or could this be done with other - less aggressive - scouring agents / household cleansers, too?

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I never use BFK on regular stones, just the ceramics. So I can't speak to how effective that is, but it's not something that I would reach for to clean my regular stones with. If they are dished out, then I'll use the carbide grit to resurface the stone, or if it is severely glazed over, otherwise the lighter fluid really pulls out the 'stuff' just be sure to wash your hands well afterwards!
G2

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I did a small experiment, one of my dual norton stones using just lighter fluid;

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and then on one of the tear drop type stones I used Bar Keepers Friend but it did not remove the embedded material very well

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

after that I used the lighter fluid but now it didn't make much difference

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

So I got out the glass plate, some carbide grit and water and proceeded to tire my right arm out, it took a long time as the stone was slightly dished so it was just hitting the ends and not the middle so it was a flattening type work that I ended up having to do.

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

better but not completely flat just yet, but enough to see that it does work

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2

 

[Robert Ptacek]

Thanks Gary,isn't lighter fluid naphtha?

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Exactly that
G2

 

[Papilio]

Thank you for this informative experiment.