New Stone

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Angus96

Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
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So i bought a new silicon carbide stone (norton) it is described as a combination bench stone (2-sided) and the packaging gives conflicting info on whether oil should be used on it. I put a fair bit of sewing machine oil on it when i was trying it out but i was being absorbed. Can you use water on these stones or is oil better? And if so, should the stone be saturated to the point where it no longer absorbs oil?
Also the surface of the stone feels quite smooth (even on the coarse side) from where it has been cut/machined, what is the best way to remove this shiny feel?

Any general info about silicon carbide stone maintenance and use would also be much appreciated as im new to the art of sharpening!
 
Mineral oil will hang out on the surface a bit longer than sewing machine oil. That said, repeated applications should slowly saturate it - just load it up and let it soak in, repeat as needed - it will slow down. If you bought the hardware store 6" stone, it doesn't come pre-loaded. Many people use water, soapy water, Simple Green, Windex, dry. I have a strong bias toward mineral oil.
The glaze can be removed by lapping the stone (with a lot of water) against a smooth sidewalk, another stone, or if using oil you can grind an old knife or any piece of steel on it, and the stone will refresh itself. You'll see a bunch of dark material (steel) and lighter grey material (stone) combine in the oil. After ten minutes or so of grinding all over the stone you'll have a pretty good surface once you wipe it down.
 
When I got mine, I thought it was kinda smooth. When I sharpened a knife with it, the stone worked perfectly.

I mostly use water with a drop of dish soap but I've used mineral oil as well. I have no real preference.
 
On this type of stone, Angus, you need some lubricant to lift the "swarf" (the steel dust and loose stone particles) off the stone so that the blade contacts the fresh grit on the stone surface. Some other types of stones (e.g., diamond plates, some ceramics) don't require a lubricant to work. But in those cases, you'll need to clean the stones after each use (usually with water).

TedP
 
I think with the probably exception of Japanese Waterstones, lubrication with any substance is about keeping the swarf out of the stone and clogging it up. Even diamond stones benefit greatly from water irrigation. Waterstones, if I understand them correctly (never used one) rely on...or benefit from...the creation of an abrasive slurry on the surface. Those need to be flattened frequently because while some of them are very aggressive as far as the grit goes, the stones themselves are a pretty soft chunk of material for the very purpose of aiding that slurry creation. They get a dent in the middle like a very old carborundum stone. My grandfather had one of those and by the time I got it, it was shaped like an hourglass.
 
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