Most effective way to clean the medium sharpmaker rods?

sogflash

sogflash

Joined
Aug 28, 2011
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I'm in the process of sharpening a caly 3 with ZDP steel on a sharpmaker. Since I first tried to sharpen it freehand the angels are wrong. This will take some time.

The corners of the medium rods quickly get filled with steel, almost like aluminum on a grinding wheel.

What will be the best way of cleaning the corners?
 
I have had really good results with Comet and a Scotchbrite pad. Been doing that for years. In a pinch you can use Softscrub, or baking soda and soap. The Comet seems the best, and it's cheap. The white rods will be white again too.
 
I don't have the SM, but with DMT and EZE-Lap diamond sharpeners, sandpaper, and several nameless ceramic stones, I use a strong magnet. It lifts off the magnetic knife steel filings every time. It should also work with the SM rods.
 
The video thwt comes with the Sharpmaker (also available on YouTube), Sal indicates Ajax type scrubbing powder.
 
Ajax/Comet etc combined with a scotchbrite/brillo pad are widely recommended. Some members on the Spyderco Forum point out that Barkeeper's friend give them the same results, but is non-abrasive, thus not wearing down your sharpmaker rods, making it a better choice than Ajax/Comet.
 
I am going to have to say that I have always had the best luck with Ajax/Comet cleaning powders in cleaning my stuff. You shouldn't really worry too much about wearing down the rods if you just use a cleaning powder. A simple dish sponge will work well at getting the white rods really clean as well. Just don't use that sponge for dishes or glass as the metal now trapped in the sponge could scratch or mar objects.
 
Just like with everyone else, I use Comet and a Scotchbrite pad. Just takes a little bit of elbow grease and it'll come off.
 
Barkeepers friend works best for me. Its easy to clean off and it makes the stones look like new again. Some of the other powder cleaners like Comet feel very soapy and seem to leave more residue which is harder to clean off the stone.
 
Brisket said:
Use a little Bar Keepers Friend and scrub with a Scotchbrite pad.
Click to expand...

I will agree with everyone here that Bar Keeper's Friend brand powdered cleanser is by far the best cleaner that I've used up till now on all my Spyderco ceramic sharpening stones. If I want to do a really deluxe job on them I first clean the stones with either Ajax or Comet then finish them with BKF and each time the stones have come out looking as though they came straight from the factory.

Also another thing I've noticed after using Bar Keeper's Friend cleaner is that the stones really have a nice uniform abrasive bite after cleaning them with BKF.

ScotchBrite Pads work well but I've also had great luck using discarded toothbrushes too.

I've recently come across a new product that I soak the stones in before I clean them and it really seems to help do a better and faster job. We all know about DAWN dishwashing soap>> well they have a new DAWN dishwashing soap that is called their "Overnight" formula. After soaking about a dozen of my Spyderco ceramic sharpening stones in the Dawn Overnight dishwashing soap the cleaning job not only went fast but it seemed like it really deep cleaned them as well.

Hey I'm not at all saying that my way is the only way; because I'm always looking for a better and easier way to clean those stones all the time. I'll try to experiment with anything at least once. But the soaking in Dawn Overnight really did make a difference in the cleaning.
 
Gonna have to side with most of the guys in here. Bar Keepers Friend is good, but Comet and Ajax work also. I guess toothpaste would work, but probably not as quickly and it's more of a mess. One advantage that BKF has over using an abrasive is that it might not wear out the stones as fast. Also, if any abrasive is left behind after cleaning, it may change how much the stones bite into steel.
 
Put them in the dishwasher. The reducing agents in the dishwasher detergent will make short work of the swarf.
 
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