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 Post subject: Cleaning oil stones
PostPosted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 12:41 pm 
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Location: Skagit Co WA
Over the years I've not been too kind to my two oil stones. As a result they've become clogged with dust, grit from sharpening, etc., etc. This morning I decided to touch up a few tools and realized neither of the stones were cutting worth a poo.

I tried spraying WD40 on the surface of both and rubbing them together but that didn't dislodge much. Thinking they should be soaked in something, I'm wondering if diesel fuel would be appropriate. Or some other light weight oil stuff. Then scrubbing with a wire brush?

Thoughts/suggestions?

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 Post subject: Re: Cleaning oil stones
PostPosted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 11:58 pm 
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Dennis I would give wd-40 a try,


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 Post subject: Re: Cleaning oil stones
PostPosted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:35 am 
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Location: Hamilton, MS
Boil it in soapy water. http://norsewoodsmith.com/content/clean ... -oil-stone

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 Post subject: Re: Cleaning oil stones
PostPosted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:02 am 
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I don't use oilstones (though I have a couple) and haven't used this method, but I know of more than a few people that have placed theirs into the dishwasher with great results.

The swarf is imbedded into the grit and won't come out without some kind of action to force it out. Soaking and scrubbing might loosen surface particles, but the deeper stuff that's actually caused the glazing will still remain.

The other key here is a sufficant such as soap to help lubricate the escape.

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 Post subject: Re: Cleaning oil stones
PostPosted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:37 am 
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Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Hey Dennis,

Setting aside for a moment the clogged surface of your oil stones, I would ask, "How flat are they?".
If they could use a good dressing, I suggest a piece of 220 or 320 silicon carbide wet or dry sandpaper, glued to a piece of plate glass. The silicon carbide will dress the stone flat, and give you a new cutting surface.

Cheers,
Tom

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 Post subject: Re: Cleaning oil stones
PostPosted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:36 pm 
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Location: Skagit Co WA
Thanks for the tips, folks.

Decided to go with my gut and soaked one of the stones in diesel fuel, then started scrubbing it with a wire brush. Seems to be working pretty well so the soaking suggestions were greatly appreciated.

Dan - I doubt I'd get away with putting them in the dishwasher! :lol:

Tom - one of the stones is pretty flat, the other is pretty dished. I've got one of those concrete rubbing stones, quite course, that I'll eventually try using to flatten out the dished one. I don't use these stones for sharpening things like plane irons, chisels or tools that really need a flat stone. Mostly just for my pocket knives and occasionally the kitchen knives.

Anyway, lesson learned: Keep 'em clean in the first place and I won't have to spend half an afternoon getting 'em back in shape.

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 Post subject: Re: Cleaning oil stones
PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:46 pm 
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I worker for many years as a tool grinder and we often "cleaned" smaller tool stones by using a course grit carburundom (spelling) stone. I suggest you try a light oil and a course 60 grit sanding disk like welders use to grind off slag to cut the stone clean.


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