Thread: What do you use on a hard black slate hone? Water or honing oil.

I have a very nice slate I have had for a while. I got it at the same time I got my Hindostan over in Indiana. What do you all recommend as a lube?



Slawmeister!

Normally i use only water on slate, but some slates do profit from a type of lubrication. This means soapy water, water glyzerine or probably oil.....

These are the slates i use without water:

- french La Lune (Purple) used with water glyzerine
- Special Stone only for Good Razors (blue metallic variant) i use oil
- vintage Yellow Lake with oil

I also heard that AJs purple Slate profits from the use of oil...

You only have to be careful because a lot of slates do soak in the oil. After that you cant use them as you did with water before.

I no longer use honing oil at all

I found Smith's Honing Solution which is water soluble, I haven't looked back since,, What I really love is the ability to adjust viscosity with one product and a few drops of water...

Plus I never have to worry about getting oil on an expensive Nakayama

I also use Smith's with just a little Ballistol added.

I prefer ballistol with water 40/60 mix. I think smiths honing solution is a good option too. Working primarily with Arkansas stones these past couple years, I found that ballistol kept my stones cleaner than smiths but never had a problem on my slate Hones with either one.

My slate is very hard and does not seem to absorb anything. I flattened it yesterday & my oh my what a smooth edge on a 5/8" Torrey 1/2 hollow with barbers notch. This seems to be a earlier Torrey. Need to clean & polish some more but this baby is now smooth & sharp! Can't wait for my Shapton 16K. to get here in the next few days.
Does anyone know when Torrey started making razors here in the US?


Slawmeister

Originally Posted by Steel

I prefer ballistol with water 40/60 mix. I think smiths honing solution is a good option too. Working primarily with Arkansas stones these past couple years, I found that ballistol kept my stones cleaner than smiths but never had a problem on my slate Hones with either one.

A interesting thing I found when adding Ballistol to Smith's is that the Ballistol made the Smith's turn white showing the Smith's has water in it.
It's crazy how good of a product Ballistol is for so many use's. Just used it on the zipper of my wife's fall coat & it works better than new. I use Ballistol with my wet / dry sandpaper with good results. If you don't have or never have had Ballistol get a can, it does not take very much to do great things.

Slawman

I just used it on my leather dress shoes. It is a great product. Far from magical as other products will do the same but it has so many properties (like water soluble) that it is a very versatile product. I also use it all over from wood handle knives In The kitchen, cutting boards, cleaning guns and blades, leather shoes, honing solution, lubricant on truck, and doors. Being water soluble itis indeed a unique product that can be used to build and dilute a slurry.

Originally Posted by Slawman

My slate is very hard and does not seem to absorb anything. I flattened it yesterday & my oh my what a smooth edge on a 5/8" Torrey 1/2 hollow with barbers notch. This seems to be a earlier Torrey. Need to clean & polish some more but this baby is now smooth & sharp! Can't wait for my Shapton 16K. to get here in the next few days.
Does anyone know when Torrey started making razors here in the US?


Slawmeister

I use oil or water, depending on the type of slate and its porosity--non-porous, oil, porous, water. You seem to be happy with the results as used, so stick with that. Is a high-grit synth really needed afterwards?

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

I use oil or water, depending on the type of slate and its porosity--non-porous, oil, porous, water. You seem to be happy with the results as used, so stick with that. Is a high-grit synth really needed afterwards?

I like options & the Shapton will be another option. I have a Coti that is a good stone also. I am thinking of starting to do some razor honing & fine knife sharpening in the near future. I have a neighbor who teaches in a culinary school & is also opening a fine dining type restaurant here in town. The guy who was doing his & the schools knives has retired. Rather than sending their knives out we have been talking & I hope to get his business. I like having tools to do the work I have. Plus I like having "STUFF". I tell my wife & kids the He who dies with the most stuff wins. I want to win! ROFLOL ;-)
Slawman