Thread: Salmen Master Oil Stone.

I posted the following on another forum site;


Hi Kees; there's a common statement commonly referred too by users of honing stones; if you start using oil on a stone, you should continue using oil on that stone. There is relevance within that statement to the fact that, if you wanted to change over to water, you would 1st need to leech the stone of existing oil. But there is an opposite argument that can be put forth, that being, the stone may actually perform better with water.

I have heard arguments on the Razor Forum suggesting that Washita and Ark stones are OIL STONES. That in my opinion is a misleading statement. There are very few natural stones that you could categorise as a true Oil stone. I can only think of 1 from my own experience, and that would be some of the darker Hindostans. Due to their high properties within Iron Oxide, the use of water would turn the stones surface to a Rust Oxide, which is something most would likely want to avoid, as a measure to protect the integrity of the stone itself, and the tool being worked.

Now, returning to the discussion on Ark Stones. As you mentioned from your own experience, Arks are more than likely slow cutters, primarily as they fail to release any cutting slurry to assist to rate of cut. I don't have a great deal of experience with Arks or Wahita, but from my experience with other nat stones oil as a lubricant can be used to slow the rate of cut within any given nat stone due to the inherent viscous film it generates between the 2 surfaces being worked. This Ark stone that was the basis behind me started this thread, is a very slow cutting stone, unsuitable for my needs as a woodworker. I had 2 choices available, 1 was to put the stone aside and let it gather dust through lack of use, or 2, leech the stone of existing oil and trial it with water as the surface lubricant. As you have been following this thread, you would know that I went ahead with leaching the stone of oil, and tested this Ark with water. There was a notable improvement in the cutting performance of this stone, to the level that will see its further within fine honing my woodworking chisels and irons.

I have learnt a great deal from this journey, and hopefully by sharing that experience with other forum members, they will have gained a similar experience.

Appreciate your feedback Kees.

I was hoping for a bit more feedback from other forum members, but that's okay.

regards Stewie;

An excellent resource for those interested in Natural Sharpening Stones is : Grinding and Honing Parts 1-4 by Henk Bos ;an excellent Dutchman now unfortunately deceased.
A google search will find the English translations.
I have a few naturals and this helped a lot in identification; particularly a Hindustan and a Turkish.
Some lovely boxes at the end of Pt 2.
Cheers
Tony

Originally Posted by AJOE123

An excellent resource for those interested in Natural Sharpening Stones is : Grinding and Honing Parts 1-4 by Henk Bos ;an excellent Dutchman now unfortunately deceased.
A google search will find the English translations.
I have a few naturals and this helped a lot in identification; particularly a Hindustan and a Turkish.
Some lovely boxes at the end of Pt 2.
Cheers
Tony

Um...Wow.Thanks.Very.Much.

Originally Posted by planemaker

I have learnt a great deal from this journey, and hopefully by sharing that experience with other forum members, they will have gained a similar experience.

I have enjoyed reading about your natural stones (and their boxes), but have absolutely no knowledge to add to the discussion, so I've just been lurking. I have now added natural stones to my list of stuff that I must buy one day when I find them at the right price.