Originally Posted by
Howard
I restore a few dozen whetstones of all types every month. I just did 11 yesterday. I put them in the kitchen sink and spray them thick with Easy Off Fume Free. I get it at Lowe's or the supermarket or Wal-mart. It's in a blue spray can. It smells a lot less than the yellow can Easy Off. The product lifts grime and oil and swarf out of the stone. Spray it on, let it sit 10 minutes and then spray with the dishwasher sprayer while brushing with an old dishwashing brush. Flip the stones and do the other side. Sometimes you have to repeat several times if they're really bad. Be sure to do the sides and ends as well.
I used Juranitch's method since I learned it in 1981 and while the Arkansas stones do hone better dry, they're also porous and so they get mucked up with swarf.