I inherited my dad’s old Norton combination oilstone – half Crystolon and half India. I think he used motor oil with it, and it is badly gunked up. “Sharpening with oilstones” FWW #61 advises using WD40 or kero.
But how to get the gunk out now and recondition it for another 25 years of use?
Replies
Use any petroleum based solvent such as naphtha or paint thinner. Let the stone soak in the solvent in a covered container and then scrub the stone with a stiff brush. It may take a couple of soakings to get the stones clean.
After the stone is cleaned up it may need to be flattened against a coarser abrasive of some sort. After cleaning, let the stone dry out for a few days in the sun before you place it in the oil.
I much prefer light mineral oil, available at drug stores (it's a laxative) as a bath for India type stones. This is identical to the oil you are buying when you you get a pricey specialty honing or sharpening oil. Light mineral oil doesn't evaporate, it's odorless, and it won't gum up with time.
I keep my stones submerged in oil in a covered food storage tray with a piece of hardware cloth in the bottom to allow grit to settle out.
John White
Thank you, John.
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