Diamond stone cleaning and lifespan?

[Skane24]

Hello, I have the full set of gold series diamond homes that come with the KME, and I was wondering what’s the best way to clean them?

A long time ago I acidentally got some green compound on my 140 stone and a few tiny specks on my 300 stone, and have been unable to get it out using dish soap hot water and a toothbrush

Here are attached photos of my stones

close ups of stones 140,300, 600, and 1500 grit

How are the condition of my stones, from what you can tell in the images? I've probably put around 50-100 knives through them if I had to guess, I use extremely light pressure, generally just the weight of the stone, maybe a tiny tiny bit more. The heaviest used stones would probably be the 140, followed by the 600, followed by the 50 if I had to guess.


What are my options for cleaning these stones, removed the green compound from the 140 and 300, and anything else I should be doing? Generally to just quickly clean them I just use an eraser, but after about 5 knives I usually wash them with dish soap and hot water.

Thanks for your time.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I wouldn't worry too much about the stray green compound on the hones. Relative to the work done and the finish left by the diamond grit, the green will likely be insignificant anyway, in terms of affecting results. Green compound is usually in the 0.5 - 1 micron range. So, as compared to the 140/300 diamond grit, it'll be like comparing pebbles to boulders.

Beyond cleaning with an eraser or dish soap & water, any embedded swarf still remaining can be cleaned up with some Bar Keepers Friend powder & water, and a scrub brush (old toothbrush works). The oxalic acid in BKF is what makes it work better - it dissolves iron and the oxides of iron. The chemical action does most of the hard work. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the hones after using it.

 

[Diemaker]

Thank you for the photos, I have been curious about the bond used. Try what Obsessed said to clean them, other than that do what you have been doing. The compound isn't doing any harm but if it bothers you too much a soft stone slurry wouldn't hurt your stones, just be somewhat gentle.

I do have a burning question. What are all those grey areas? They look like either pockets where diamond crystals were torn out or grey crystals?

 

[Skane24]

Thank you for the photos, I have been curious about the bond used. Try what Obsessed said to clean them, other than that do what you have been doing. The compound isn't doing any harm but if it bothers you too much a soft stone slurry wouldn't hurt your stones, just be somewhat gentle.

I do have a burning question. What are all those grey areas? They look like either pockets where diamond crystals were torn out or grey crystals?

So, I have seen others that have the same grey streaks in the middles of other peoples stones, for example here

https://www.reddit.com/r/sharpening/comments/ujbhu2

So I’m not sure? I use extremely light pressure, so I can’t imagine it ripping the diamonds out. It still cuts pretty good, I just worry about stone longevity, a new set of stones is like 149 dollars I think.

Any advice/ your opinion?

 

[Diemaker]

I wish you had a better microscope. If you could give us a 4-10 times better magnification it would probably answer the question. If the grey areas are crystal pockets then you are already doing what you can to make them last. These stones can lose a lot of diamonds and still cut well.

Try looking at them under your microscope and see if they look the same on the outside corners where they haven't been used as much. Different light may also help see things.

 

[Skane24]

I wish you had a better microscope. If you could give us a 4-10 times better magnification it would probably answer the question. If the grey areas are crystal pockets then you are already doing what you can to make them last. These stones can lose a lot of diamonds and still cut well.

Try looking at them under your microscope and see if they look the same on the outside corners where they haven't been used as much. Different light may also help see things.

Took a lot of fiddling with this usb microscope, but I got some up closer images with different lighting, its not perfect but its what I could achieve, let me know if this helps provide any further information.

these are the 600 and 1500 grit stones.

 

[cudgee]

I just worry about stone longevity,

I use 2/3 water mixed with 1/3 isopropyl and a dash of dish washing liquid. Helps with longevity and i brush the stones under running water when finished, helps keep them clean.

 

[777 Edge]

Even though diamond plated stones are often advertised as "dry use", it is always best to use them with soapy water. I often recommend a couple drops of dish soap in a small bottle of water to use when sharpening. You'll find the stones clean easier after use, and they tend to last a lot longer when used this way. After finishing your sharpening session, use dish soap and running water with a small nylon brush to quickly clean them. Properly rinse after and make sure to dry them before storing them.

 

[eKretz]

As already mentioned above, Bar Keeper's Friend (powdered cleanser, not the liquid) is hands-down the best cleaner I've tried for electroplated diamond hones. I've been using it exclusively on mine for over a decade. That little dark gray area on your hone may just be embedded swarf. A good scrub with BKF will probably make it look nice and uniform again. It's pretty great stuff for electoplated hones.

 

[Diemaker]

Sorry but the new images don't help.

 

[000Robert]

I clean my diamond stones with dish soap/water and a scrub brush.

 

[DeadboxHero]

Thank you for the photos, I have been curious about the bond used. Try what Obsessed said to clean them, other than that do what you have been doing. The compound isn't doing any harm but if it bothers you too much a soft stone slurry wouldn't hurt your stones, just be somewhat gentle.

I do have a burning question. What are all those grey areas? They look like either pockets where diamond crystals were torn out or grey crystals?

Have to rule out it just being clogged with steel from cutting and not being cleaned after.

Here is a picture of diamond abrasive after cutting steel.

The grey clumps are steel that was cut.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I don't know if it would work on your diamond hones, but I use BreakFree CLP to clean my DMTs. It lifts the swarf out and restores their cutting efficiency. It works well immediately, or even better if you leave a light coating of CLP on for a few hours, then wipe with a soft dry cloth. I have used the same DMTs for over two decades without wearing one out.

 

[DeadboxHero]

I don't know if it would work on your diamond hones, but I use BreakFree CLP to clean my DMTs. It lifts the swarf out and restores their cutting efficiency. It works well immediately, or even better if you leave a light coating of CLP on for a few hours, then wipe with a soft dry cloth. I have used the same DMTs for over two decades without wearing one out.

If you use them for high volume sharpening, they wear out quickly, there is only a single layer of diamond abrasive on there, when its gone, its gone.

 

[kane22]

As already mentioned above, Bar Keeper's Friend (powdered cleanser, not the liquid) is hands-down the best cleaner I've tried for electroplated diamond hones. I've been using it exclusively on mine for over a decade. That little dark gray area on your hone may just be embedded swarf. A good scrub with BKF will probably make it look nice and uniform again. It's pretty great stuff for electoplated hones.

This...works great