I have a stone I like quite a bit--good size, between a regular Arkansas and a hardstone in grit--that does not have as much bite as it once did. It seems to take longer to do the job than it used to. I have been using this stone for a number of years, and it has gotten progressively worse. Most of what I sharpen on it are kitchen knives, which don't have the best steel. I think the pores are just clogged. I have always used oil with it. Any suggestions for restoring this stone?
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Clogged Sharpening Stone?
- Thread starter Don M
- Start date
Soak the stone in Solvent.
Carb cleaner or lighter fluid also works pretty good.
I've used a small extra hard arkansas stone to rub the surface of soft stones that are lightly clogged after applying a coat of solvent. It helps square up the top of the stone.
Carb cleaner or lighter fluid also works pretty good.
I've used a small extra hard arkansas stone to rub the surface of soft stones that are lightly clogged after applying a coat of solvent. It helps square up the top of the stone.
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
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Flatten it, this will remove the clogged material and restore the surface to optimum.
In the future, after honing if you wipe down the stone and use a large magnet wrapped in cloth you can get rid of the metal particles and slow gumming up significantly.
Waterstones and Diamond hones are much less trouble to maintain.
-Cliff
In the future, after honing if you wipe down the stone and use a large magnet wrapped in cloth you can get rid of the metal particles and slow gumming up significantly.
Waterstones and Diamond hones are much less trouble to maintain.
-Cliff
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 9,730
Try heating it gently (maybe 200 F.) in an oven. Otherwise, truing the surface may help. I think I saw instructions how to do that in a sharpening book available at Lee Valley Tools.
- Joined
- Jan 13, 1999
- Messages
- 1,422
In The Complete Bladesmith, Dr. Hrisoulas wrote:
"To clear out the pores, soak the stone overnight in kerosene, then bake the stone at 325 degrees for several hours. Place the stone on some sort of sheeting to contained the kerosene as it seeps out of the stone. The heat from the baking will lift out the grit that has been loosened by the kerosene soaking. . ."
[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 04-30-2000).]
"To clear out the pores, soak the stone overnight in kerosene, then bake the stone at 325 degrees for several hours. Place the stone on some sort of sheeting to contained the kerosene as it seeps out of the stone. The heat from the baking will lift out the grit that has been loosened by the kerosene soaking. . ."
[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 04-30-2000).]
- Joined
- Nov 24, 1999
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- 4,981
Get yourself a sheet of medium to coarse (80-150) grit sandpaper and lay it down on something good and flat grit side up. Then lay the face of the stone down on the paper and move it around in figure eights until its good and flat. After its flattened and cleaned up you can go to a fine grit and smooth the stone out if you want. But with a meduim stone like that it shouldn't really be necessary.
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We got a five dollar fine for whining
We tell you before you come in
So if it ain't on your mind to have a good time
Y'all come back and see us again.- Chris LeDoux
- Joined
- Apr 27, 1999
- Messages
- 6,117
I would sure be careful about baking kerosene in an oven. You might get an explosion! I would not do it in a gas oven with a pilot light. I might put something in an electric oven that I preheated and turned off first. If you get kerosene smell in your oven your wife or mother might kill you.
What I usually do is use hot tap water, scouring cleanser (such as Comet), and a scrub brush. Pour on a lot of cleanser and a little hot water and scrub away. Add more water and scrub more. Rince with hot running water.
What I usually do is use hot tap water, scouring cleanser (such as Comet), and a scrub brush. Pour on a lot of cleanser and a little hot water and scrub away. Add more water and scrub more. Rince with hot running water.
Use Matt's method, it works and is not dangerous.
Happy truing
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D.T. UTZINGER
Happy truing
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D.T. UTZINGER
Try hot soap and water before solvents, it may work. When I use to use Arkansaw stones I would put them on the floor of my shower. After a hot shower they would be as good as new. Use a lot of soap and shampoo.
Also, check the stones to make sure they are still flat. My first one eventually dished out.
Will
Also, check the stones to make sure they are still flat. My first one eventually dished out.
Will