Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 26
-
2nd November 2012, 11:33 PM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2012
- Location
- Shanghai
- Posts
- 102
Neatsfoot Oil as an Oilstone Lubricant
Hi all.
Jimbur recently informed me that honing oil used to contain neatsfoot oil, derived from cow's feet. I then read on a different forum that someone used neatsfoot oil as an oilstone lubricant while doing a cabinet making apprenticeship.
Does anyone here have any experience of using the stuff? I like the idea of using an oil that my great grandchildren might also be able to use.
-
2nd November 2012 11:33 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
2nd November 2012, 11:56 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- gippsland
- Posts
- 815
I'm not sure whether honing oil contained neatsfoot oil, but i can't see why it wouldn't work, by accident i stumbled across oil from a transformer? from some old metal halide lights, very thin oil maybe emu oil? anyhow works the best for me on the oil stone.
-
3rd November 2012, 12:13 AM #3
WD40, works a treat, helps get a good edge and the only stone I have ever had is barely worn after 45 yrs of constant use
The person who never made a mistake never made anything
Cheers
Ray
-
3rd November 2012, 12:38 AM #4Senior Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2012
- Location
- Shanghai
- Posts
- 102
Hey,
I just found on the thread titled "What oil to use on an oilstone?" that Ubeaut recommends neatsfoot oil as the BEST oil for oilstones.
Hopefully Ubeaut will join the chat here...if notmi suppose there's always PM.
-
3rd November 2012, 12:58 AM #5
Baby oil works well and smells nice, but I'll be interested to find some of this stuff and see what it's like.
Paul
-
3rd November 2012, 10:14 AM #6Jim
- Join Date
- Feb 2008
- Location
- Victoria
- Posts
- 3,191
Yes, I've used 50/50 neatsfoot oil and kero. Worked well but neatsfoot oil isn't as easy to get as sewing machine oil.
Cheers,
Jim
-
3rd November 2012, 10:09 PM #7
A lot of thin oils can be used. At present I am using a bottle of singer sewing machine oil that is so old it is a bit discoloured. in the past I have used 3 in one, WD40 when I cant find anything else handy, engine oil thinned with kerro and even cooking oil. The oils job is to carry away the swarf so what oil is not important as long is it does the job. If too thick then dilute with kerro. While I would use most oils that suit I would be thinking again about oil from a transformer as I think they contain PCBs.
Regards
John
-
3rd November 2012, 10:53 PM #8China
- Join Date
- Dec 2005
- Location
- South Australia
- Posts
- 4,475
Neatsfoot oil is the ideal oil to use on oilstones
-
4th November 2012, 05:24 AM #9
Hi Russell
It sounds as if you are going to use oilstones. Please be aware (I posted this earlier) that the Mujingfang planes you are (or were) interested in use HSS blades. Oilstones and HSS blades are not a good match.
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
-
4th November 2012, 01:52 PM #10Senior Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2012
- Location
- Shanghai
- Posts
- 102
Cheers for the heads-up, Derek.
What kind of blades would go well with oilstones?
-
4th November 2012, 02:06 PM #11SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- gippsland
- Posts
- 815
Thanks Orraloon, had no idea, darn it worked so well
-
4th November 2012, 02:08 PM #12
Oilstones have been used very successfully for centuries. They do not cut as quickly as natural waterstones, the equivalent medium. Their strength lies only in that they remain flat longer. (But, if you want them to cut faster, you have to surface them regularly with a diamond stone - which seems to defeat this advantage).
Unless you are using steel from a vintage era, or its modern equivalent, oilstones can become out of their depth. These steels are generally referred to as "high carbon" and avoid the addition of chrome. A modern version is O1. Steels with chrome in them are toughened by this, but the grain is also made coarser, and so the edge achieved is not as fine. The most common are A2 and HSS (M2). A2 is doable on an oilstone (just) but HSS is going to frustrate you no end.
Bottom line for me: if I only used vintage steel, I would be very tempted to use oilstones. It has a nice traditional feel to it. However I would have to have modern waterstones for the rest of the steel types.
Regards from Perth
DerekVisit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.
-
4th November 2012, 03:53 PM #13Jim
- Join Date
- Feb 2008
- Location
- Victoria
- Posts
- 3,191
Just one addition to what Derek has said. If you have ever had the opportunity to see an old craftsman using an oilstone you would have noticed that he would cover as much of the surface as possible when sharpening to minimise the need for flattening. I presume that back then stones were relatively more expensive than to today. I don't think the technique lends itself very well to honing guides though.
Cheers,
Jim
-
6th November 2012, 11:21 AM #14Senior Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2009
- Location
- Minnesota, USA
- Posts
- 115
Some transfomers are filled with some pretty nasty stuff, PCBs I believe, might want to be sure, or not take the risk. I use lamp oil cheap and easy to get. Remember that the oil is to keep the swarf from clogging the stone, you don't want a lubricant, that would be counter productive.
-
6th November 2012, 12:55 PM #15Intermediate Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 42
I would not use any oil from electrical equipment.
Up until the 70s or 80s, the insulating oil was Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), its very dangerous, and a known carcinogen.
Polychlorinated biphenyl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Regards Steve.
Similar Threads
-
What oil to use on an oilstone
By ClintO in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 26Last Post: 2nd April 2013, 05:49 PM -
Oilstone flattening
By Bernie Summers in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 8Last Post: 20th August 2009, 04:57 PM -
oilstone colours
By tanii51 in forum SHARPENINGReplies: 3Last Post: 4th July 2007, 11:38 PM -
Old oilstone
By Daddles in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 5Last Post: 22nd August 2005, 06:53 PM -
Flatten an oilstone?
By rhook in forum HAND TOOLS - UNPOWEREDReplies: 15Last Post: 14th August 2004, 12:27 AM