Cleaning a hone used with oil

[GregMcC]

Hi,

Is it possible to clean oil out of a honing stone at all? Or is using it with oil ok, possible neebie question I know, but if you don't ask.......

 

[paco664]

yes... soap and water.... DEPENDING on the type of stone there are a few other cleaning methods but pretty much all boil down to soap and water...

 

[Mick]

I would think a good degreaser dish soap like Ivory would work.

 

[Gamma]

What kind of hone is it?

 

[GregMcC]

It's a Tam O'Shanter stone

 

[Gamma]

Not sure. It's a slate I think.
I know you can immerse a Thuri (also a slate) that's been oiled in a bed of table salt and it'll pull most of the oil out, but I don't know if that will work for a TOS.
I think people used oil on Tams to get a finer edge - in that case you might want to leave it alone.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Crush some kitty litter very fine, into powder. An old junk coffee grinder would work. Or a food processor. Bury the stone in the kitty litter. Agitate it daily. After a couple of weeks, most of the oil will have been pulled out of the rock. Then try a volatile solvent like acetone, followed by good old soap and water. Joy is good. Tide will work, Whatevah. Then don't ever oil the stone again, lest the hone gods strike you down.

Actually, a better move would be to just get a new stone and keep the oiled one for finishing, if it is fine enough. The oil film provides a buffer, preventing the scratches from going deep into the steel if you use light enough pressure. Of course, lather or soap work just as well for that.

 

[GregMcC]

In the case I have to keep using oil, are there any recommended types to use, or ones to avoid?

 

[paco664]

any light machine oil will do fine..... try and stay away from motor oil or rear end grease...

 

[Slash McCoy]

If you can find Smith honing oil, that stuff is made specifically for honing on Arkansas stones but will work fine for any other stones, natural or synthetic. Sewing machine oil will work fine. Don't use vegetable oils... they oxidize, leaving a hard glaze on the stone. Mineral oils only. Baby oil would work, I imagine. I just hate to think how many babies have to be squeezed for each bottle of the stuff. Bacon grease will make your stones taste and smell delicious.