Thread: Lube for American Slate Hones?

Hello, I have a 2" X 12" American slate hone. I was wondering if I should use just plain water or oil? I have been using water in a spray bottle, 1quart size. I had problems with the razors sticking to the hone so I added about one drop of Dawn dish soap to the water & that problem stopped. The Dawn lowers the surface tension of the water allowing better contact between the hone & the blade.
I was wondering about different hone oil like Dan's or Norton . Any help would be great!

Dave "Slawman"

I would stick to water. Slates are usually pretty absorbent, if you use oil you might never get it back out. Have you tried slurry honing with your stone?

Yes I have & it works well!

Slawman

Why don't you polish the slate. That would be an easier solution.

Originally Posted by Slawman

Hello,...snip... I had problems with the razors sticking to the hone so I added about one drop of Dawn dish soap to the water & that problem stopped. The Dawn lowers the surface tension of the water allowing better contact between the hone & the blade.
...snip...
Dave "Slawman"

A blade sticking to the hone may often be an indication that the hone has given all it can. That means that the bevel and spine are as flat as they can get on that hone and surface tension has taken over appearing as suction..
I think this may be a reason for Pyramiding or going back one grit level to make the hone cut and polish to the very edge when returned to the finishing hone.
~Richard

Soap works, but I like Smith’s Honing solution, it is water soluble. A while back some guys posted on using water soluble machinist cutting fluid, probably the same thing.

I have also used a drop or two of mineral oil and washed the stone when finished. A scrub with Simple Green will clean it well and if not just an overnight soak in a water and Simple Green solution will get it clean.

Smith’s is good, but on some stones oil does seem to squeak out the max performance from a stone.

I would only use water. Stripping oil from a slate would be a nightmare.

Liquid Glycerin also works and is a wash off lubricant. I have some at my sink for adding to cheaper soaps and so it is there for honing should I wish.

Any lubricant/ method of breaking surface tension may help. That said, especially with surfactants= soaps, the smoother flow of water over the edge and bevel may lead to the erroneous conclusion that the bevel is fully set due to an increased flow of water up toward the spine during a lap.
Just some things I learned over time and every hone and razor are different but some things usually work for most.
~Richard

I have leveled & polished the slate. It is very smooth & a good finishing hone. I use it &a Barber hone for finish & touch work and really, they serve the purpose well.

Slawman

Guys watch out for that water soluble machining oil also - it can go rancid very fast and bacteria LOVE the stuff. Think of your hone smelling like nasty stinky feet, funky cheese and sulfur farts all at once and you'll get the picture! Some of the coolant tanks at the shops I worked in that used the stuff were like that and my God, did I pity the poor guy who had to clean those out.