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New Norton Stone

totallynotalex

Basic Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
1,100
I recently received a new Norton fine/coarse india stone. I recall seeing a thread that you might have to boil it to get the grease out of it. How would you know if you have to do this? Should I do it just to play it safe. Also another question I had was, would wd-40 work as a lubricant for the stone. Thanks in advance guys, this is my first stone and my first attempt at frree hand sharpening so any tips would be apprecaited!
 
If you're OK using mineral oil or similar, don't bother boiling it. That's only a good idea if you plan on using water/ dish soap and water. Personally I greatly prefer soap and water to oil as I find it suspends the swarf (metal particles that are ground off the blade) very well and can be easily washed off the stone and reapplied if the job calls for it. Oil works well too, but is a lot messier. If you decide to boil it, use something to keep it off the bottom of the pot - I crossed two forks head to toe and rested the stone on them.
 
If you're OK using mineral oil or similar, don't bother boiling it. That's only a good idea if you plan on using water/ dish soap and water. Personally I greatly prefer soap and water to oil as I find it suspends the swarf (metal particles that are ground off the blade) very well and can be easily washed off the stone and reapplied if the job calls for it. Oil works well too, but is a lot messier. If you decide to boil it, use something to keep it off the bottom of the pot - I crossed two forks head to toe and rested the stone on them.
+1

If you want to try oil, use baby oil (which is light mineral oil).
 
Those are nice stones. Mine is almost 40 years old and still going strong. I usually use honing oil (if I have it on hand) or WD40.

Ric
 
I ran my Norton through the dishwasher a couple of times, then used it dry afterward.
 
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