Thread: How do you unclog a stone?

I have a 600 grit manmade stone and a soft Arkansas that I've been using on my kitchen (& other) cutlery that are pretty badly clogged. One thing that I'm sure isn't helping is that I've been using them dry, as per Jim Juranich's (SP?) research. Is there any way to unclog them, short of grinding them down to fresh abrasive? Can I prevent them from clogging up again without resorting to honing oil? (I hate using oil, it's such a mess). Note: neither of these stones has ever been oiled. Both took several years to get to their present state.


TIA,
-Johnny

I hesitate to wade in cause I'm a new guy here.

Personally I'd never go so long without lapping a stone. I have largely dismissed JJ because of the dry stone issue among other things. Is he a member
It's never made sense to me regardless.

I don't have a vast collection but I do have some variety of stones. With Arks as soon as its abrasive seems just a little dubbed over i will lap it on a diamond plate to restore fresh grit.

IIrc it was JJ who said an oil stone must always be used with oil. I know this is untrue as I have restored several old gummy Arks with lapping. I use water on all my stones.

I know of no other way to unclog a stone, but there are other benefits to lapping besides cleaning. Do that and get some water on it and I believe you will get the sense you have wasted enough time with the other method.

Lap those stones!!!

Then use fluid to keep them from cloging again. I always use oil on my stones of that type, though I vary the viscosity depending upon the sharpening job.

I scrubbed the stones with soapy water & a toothbrush to get out as much crud as I could, then I lapped on plate glass with sandpaper. That seemed to work. I'd like to avoid using oil, though. It's messy. Can I use water to prevent them from clogging up again?

Sorry for the misunderstanding mate. I admit I didn't notice the similarity between your initials and John Juranitch. I used JJ because I wasn't sure of the spelling of his name either. Since I'm new I don't pay much attention to y'alls names only what's written.. my bad.

It has been a number of years since I have read any of John's material, so I have probably misquoted him

Imho, no, with water or oil eventually they will clog again. And there may be a difference in what we call clogged. If it's not cutting like it's new and clean then to me it's clogged. what kind of 600?

I have on occasion used a dry stone and do not like it one bit.

Please keep the discussions civil.
Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but in a discussions you debate fact, not persons.

Don't make me come back here with Mr Morningstar, or there will be wailing, and the gnashing of teeth...

Ooops, my bad. You were jumping down Juranitch's throat, I thought you were jumping down mine. sorry about that. I edited my reply. That was dumb of me. Anyway, the 600 is (I think) a silicon carbide stone from the hardware store, and the fine one is a soft white Arkansas. I used to use water before I discovered Juranitch because that's what I thought you were supposed to do, but now I can't remember if it helped the clogging problem or not. Guess I'll have to just do it for a while and see. I was not unhappy with the edge I got by using the stones dry, but it does seem like they gunk up rather badly.

Ah a silicon carbide. Those are designed to be used dry. Which makes me laugh at myself some more. I have never used one with oil, but using water makes them break down at world record speed.

For novaculites water will help suspend / wash away the swarf, thus helping to prevent glazing.

I used to boil Arkansas hones in bicarbonate of soda, I am not sure whether that would be a good idea for man made hones.

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.