Quote Originally Posted by JimmyHAD View Post
I just can't bring myself to hone dry. Even on a barber hone. What Steven said about the stone loading up is a fact. One of the reasons to use a liquid is that it is a vehicle to move the metal particles rather then grinding them into the stone. At least that is my uneducated guess.

+1 and the fact the oil/water acts as a lubricant.