Using Crystolon coarse like a water stone

[maximus83]

Does it work to use the Crystolon coarse stone like a water stone?

Background:
I use Crystolon coarse a lot. It's the favorite for profiling, bevel setting, edge repair. Problem is I don't like using it as an oil stone. For heavy grinding it's a mess, and I'm trying to get out of oil stones. I've been using it as a water stone, soak first then add water while using. HH has given tips on how to boil the stone and get rid of the embedded oil from the factory; plan to do that next weekend.

Curious if anyone else has used it this way, and what pros and cons you ran into. It is working fine using it this way, but not sure whether this is the best way to utilize this stone.

 

[jpm2]

I have a couple of what I think are the 2x6 economy stones that came dry, not pre loaded. Not sure if they still offer them that way.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I have a 2" x 8" SiC stone from ACE, that I've used only with water so far; I've kept it segregated from the rest of my 'oil' stones, which are now living permanently in a mineral oil bath, in an airtight container. I don't know (yet) if it's working any better as used with water, as opposed to oil, as I've been doing with my other SiC stones (Norton Economy, Sears, ACE brands). But it works fine and as expected; no surprises or disappointments.

In using my SiC stones with oil, I tend to believe they're probably releasing grit a little more easily, than is the stone that I've used only with water. But I need to use each of them more, to see if that's consistently the case, or just a fleeting perception.

Edited to add:
All of my oil stones came dry, i.e., not pre-loaded with oil or grease. If they had been pre-loaded, I'd likely not use them with water at all, but only with oil instead.


David

 

[willc]

I have probably a dozen various old SiC stones that I have collected over the years and there are a couple that I use with water and they act very similar to the King 1K stone.
They retain water well and they also get muddy when using good pressure.
Also they are a good bit finer than the Norton stones.
I think they are very old Corundum brand stones.

When using my Norton SiC stones I use water with a bit of dish soap.
I have boiled a few stones to remove the oil and it works well but sometimes more than one session is needed.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I have probably a dozen various old SiC stones that I have collected over the years and there are a couple that I use with water and they act very similar to the King 1K stone.
They retain water well and they also get muddy when using good pressure.
Also they are a good bit finer than the Norton stones.
I think they are very old Corundum brand stones.

When using my Norton SiC stones I use water with a bit of dish soap.
I have boiled a few stones to remove the oil and it works well but sometimes more than one session is needed.

As a minor note, I think you mean Carborundum. Carborundum happens to be another name for silicon carbide, while corundum is aluminum oxide. The Carborundum Company was one of the earliest industrial manufacturers of synthetic abrasives.

 

[David Martin]

How did I know 42 would catch that 'Freudian slip'.
Will, yes I have one of the old Carborundum fine stones, SiC grit. There are a good bit finer than the current Norton fine stones.
Also, the Razor Edge stone are finer than the Norton stones. But they may be aluminum oxide. If you can get them to answer that
question. I'll try soapy water. DM

 

[willc]

As a minor note, I think you mean Carborundum. Carborundum happens to be another name for silicon carbide, while corundum is aluminum oxide. The Carborundum Company was one of the earliest industrial manufacturers of synthetic abrasives.

Yes, you would be correct there.
I may even still have one with the side sticker intact.

It is kinda neat trying out the older and oddball stones from garage sales and flea markets.
Some are crap or abused but most can be relegated to some sort of work.