Thread: Arkansas stone

Originally Posted by Timeo Danaos

I've been using WD40 as a lubricant on the stone.

Kroil is a penetrating lubricant like WD40; however Kroil comes in liquid form so it's somewhat less messy to apply to the hone.

Thanks for your explanation mparker762. Also, thanks for the "grit" leadduck.

As a follow up, I was wondering how long would the average "break in" period be?


What is the best way to break in?

I have a vintage clauss that is a "butter knife", would this be a good place to start? , or would it take an eternity. (I do have a lot of spare time on my hands these days).

- Cheers

I did not break in my stone at all, or even lap it. If it gets better with use I'll have no complaints.
An Arkansas cuts too slow to set a blunt razor in real time. I use a DMT diamond plate for that.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Kroil is a penetrating lubricant like WD40; however Kroil comes in liquid form so it's somewhat less messy to apply to the hone.

I didn't think you wanted to get into the habit of using penetrating lubricants especially those with detergents on hones. I thought that it could dissolve the matrix in many mad made oil stones and cause them to crumble.

If I'm off base let me know. I don't think is a problem with a natural stone but... just a bad habit that could ruin some others.

Wild,

The Arkansas hones are natural quartz rock and are not fazed by most chemicals, at least those you'd be willing to touch with your fingers. I'm not a chemist, so don't quote me here, but I'd be willing to bet that the Arkansas novaculite will resist attack from just about anything you can dip it into.

I am a Chemist and an Akansas will not be degraded by these lubricants.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I didn't think you wanted to get into the habit of using penetrating lubricants especially those with detergents on hones. I thought that it could dissolve the matrix in many mad made oil stones and cause them to crumble.

If I'm off base let me know. I don't think is a problem with a natural stone but... just a bad habit that could ruin some others.

I suspect that most oilstones are detergent-resistant, since they're as likely to get used with 10W30 or WD40 as they are with proper honing oil.

I've also used Kroil on a Thuringen to good effect.