Thread: Water, water-based oil, or petroleum-based oil for a knife hone?

First off, apologies if this is either in the wrong topic, or a sub-elementary eedjit's question that has been answered 388 times already (I couldn't find it, though).

I've been wanting to get a Case stockman pocket knife for a while (a long while, but when you're still sending kids to school on a librarian's salary, you get used to deferring gratification! ), probably this one, and I thought I'd get a stone and some honing oil at the same time, when and if.

But a knife sharpening guide that I have tells me I've got three choices for a honing fluid: water, water-based honing oil, petroleum-based honing oil. So I'm wondering, what are the pros and cons of these three? And does anyone know whether Case honing oil is water- or petroleum-based?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated. I'm a long, long way from daring to try to hone a straight razor, but a pocketknife, now that might be more doable.

Rich

if you use water, you can dry out the stone and switch to oil some day.


once you use oil, that's it, you can't really use water with that stone.

so i'd start with water, in any event. fwiw, i think honing a razor is a lot easier than a knife. unless you use something like the Lansky system, it's very VERY hard to hold the knife at a constant angle.

On a normal stone water only.

On a system like the Lansky...whatever they recommend.

The guy behind - Razor Edge Systems is adamant that it is best to hone dry. He has a lot of experience of sharpening knives!

Of course some stones are designed to be used with water, using them dry might not work at all.

Here are some handy links I have open atm:
http://users.ameritech.net/knives/index.htm#contents
http://www.caseyspm.com/Knives.html

Rastewart,

The simple answer to your question is, use water on a water stone and oil on an oil stone. I found this interesting bit for you: how can I differentiate a oil stone and a water stone for sharpening? The good news is that any flat stones you aquire for sharpening a knife can be used to sharpen any edged tools including your razor(s) when you are ready. If you are shopping, here is a link to Woodcraft's catalogue of oil stones: Oil Stones - Woodcraft.com and here is the link to their selection of water stones: Water Stones - Woodcraft.com If there's something you see there you would like but feel the price is a little steep, let me know, I may be able to help you out.

You are right, this is the wrong forum. Have you looked in the Honing forum under Basic Honing? Also, check the Wiki for an entire wealth of data at the click of your mouse button.

Thanks, everyone, for the useful words of advice and links. Jockeys, interesting thought, that a razor would be easier to hone than a knife! I'd never thought of it that way but can see your point. Icedog, thanks for the differentiation and Woodcraft links, and I do appreciate your offer. I think I'll be OK on that, though, as it will be a while before I follow up on those ... I can do a bit of stashing away in the piggy bank. Oh, and I'll check out the Honing forum and wiki as well. I just wasn't sure if that was meant for razor honing only, or for all sorts of blades.

~Rich

Never ever ever use oil on your stone. A stone that would have lasted you ten years will last you five. The oil helps the stone to slowly disintegrate.

If you are getting water stones, then you will obviously need to use water, but if you get oil stones you can skip lubrication in general if you wish and just sharpen dry, not bad for the knife or the stone. If you really don't want to go the dry route, then use water.

In regards to angle. What I have done is I built a small ramp out of a cardboard box and some wood. It's set to 19 degrees and so I just keep the knife parallel to whatever surface the ramp is on and put my stone on the ramp. Then just go heel to tip keeping the knife horizontal. Switch hands and repeat. Easy.

I don't know how well this forum takes to advertising other forums, but if you go to knifeforums.com there is a section on sharpening.

Follow the manufacturers' recommendations for the particular hone.