Thread: Ridding an Arkansas Stone of Oil.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I got a bottle of Ballistol along with a razor I bought on ebay. European seller gifted the bottle. Stuff reminds me of mineral oil. Anyone know if it is petroleum based or ........ ?

Hey Jimmy,
Ballistol is great for guns!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I got a bottle of Ballistol along with a razor I bought on ebay. European seller gifted the bottle. Stuff reminds me of mineral oil. Anyone know if it is petroleum based or ........ ?

It's a mix of mineral oil & oleic acid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistol#Ingredients

Originally Posted by StewieS

Gents; I cant say I have had any of the problems mentioned regarding the use of water on my honing stones. The stones gets a wipe down after use, and any fine hone metal is removed. Some of my water stones are designed to be used with a cutting slurry , and others without.

Nice collection!

If I'm reading this thread correctly, you've just recently started with Arkies? They're a bit different than your typical water stone. Often other stones will auto slurry, at least to some degree, and the "cutting material" will be refreshed. So they can be used with water indefinitely with little or no burnishing happening.

Arkies are %99 pure, and don't auto slurry. So you'll likely find in time (not overnight) that water not only wears metal from your blade faster, but also burnishes the surface of your hone faster.

Just the nature of the beast, they're an entity unto themselves.

That said, water doesn't hurt them. And if you refresh the surface once in a while, I'm sure you'll be happy with the system for quite some time.

While purchasing different types of 2nd hand natural stones from the uk, I found it astonishing that nearly all of these stones have been used long term with oil. Why in the u.k. What was the impetus to not use water. Was it based on concerns with rust, the cooler wetter climate, or long held tradition. I honestly have no idea.

Take for example the condition I received the following Welsh Idwall Grecian Hone. Caked in years of oil use, inhibiting its capacity to function effectively. And why would you choose to use oil in the 1st place with this type of stone.



And here is the same stone after being cleaned up.



And here is the same stone being used today to hone a spokeshave blade. Its now a water stone. A quick wipe down with a damp rag, and the stone surface is ready for use next time its needed.



And look at the condition of the Ark stone when I received it. Covered in years of oil use. Its no wonder is was a terribly slow cutter..



The same Ark after being leeched of old oil and now a dedicated to water stone.



And the packaging on this Salmen U.K stone. It states USE WITH FINE OIL.



Why would you use oil on a quality Scotch Dalmore Blue.



StewieS;

Originally Posted by StewieS

Why would you use oil on a quality Scotch Dalmore Blue.

StewieS;

Interesting. For awhile I received emails from a tool collector's sales site in the UK. I was looking for a Charnley. I was surprised at how often he had vintage Arkansas stones for sale. Say that to say, the Arks must have been in high demand worldwide in the olden days.

My first experience with sharpening stones was with Arks, and the consensus in the early 1970s was to use oil. This had probably been handed down for decades, if not centuries. I distinctly remember mail order catalogs of that period, and since. specifying oil and water stones.

The explanations in those catalogs generally said that never the twain shall meet. So it is curious that using water on some of these 'oil' stones wasn't more well broadcast back in the old days. I'm reasonably sure some inquisitive soul must have tried it.

Well, I'm not from the UK, but my best guess is it would be similar to why I'd use oil on an Arkansas. Shallower cut, finer stria, sharper blade.

I doubt there's much worry about swarf getting in the pores, at least not in slates. There really isn't any in my Dragon's Tongue, LM, or Black Welsh slates.

But there's not a doubt in my mind that oil will yield a sharper edge with just about any stone. I simply will not chance it on stones that I use as Water hones.

I was surprised at how often he had vintage Arkansas stones for sale. Say that to say, the Arks must have been in high demand worldwide in the olden days.

Jimmy; your quite right when you refer to the high number of Arks and Washita found in the U.K. I do find that quite puzzling in a way, from my limited experience with these US stones. There were a large number of locally mined uk stones that IMO matched, if not exceeded the performance of these imported stones. Maybe it came down to the power of advertising and marketing, no different to what we experience in modern times.

regards StewieS;

Originally Posted by Marshal

Well, I'm not from the UK, but my best guess is it would be similar to why I'd use oil on an Arkansas. Shallower cut, finer stria, sharper blade.

I doubt there's much worry about swarf getting in the pores, at least not in slates. There really isn't any in my Dragon's Tongue, LM, or Black Welsh slates.

But there's not a doubt in my mind that oil wI'll yield a sharper edge with just about any stone. I simply will not chance it on stones that I use as Water hones.

Marshal; if you have a found a system that works for you, then there is no valid reason to change. In saying that, its likely that the needs of a straight razor user, are somewhat different to that of a woodworker.

Stewie;

Originally Posted by StewieS

Jimmy; your quite right when you refer to the high number of Arks and Washita found in the U.K. I do find that quite puzzling in a way, from my limited experience with these US stones. There were a large number of locally mined uk stones that IMO matched, if not exceeded the performance of these imported stones. Maybe it came down to the power of advertising and marketing, no different to what we experience in modern times.

regards StewieS;

@StewieS : Puzzling indeed. When I first came to SRP in '07-'08 there was no mention at all of Welsh slates, other naturals that are quite well known now. I think you are probably spot on that it was the power of advertising and marketing back in the old days. I wonder if some of these local quarries were only known in a small geographical area ?

Anyhow, here is an old thread that may be of interest. It is by a member who was quite a rockhound. His sig, before sigs were not allowed for a time, used to be, "I'd sell my soul for a Devonshire oil stone." A_S hasn't been around in quite some time. I hope he found his 'holy grail' stone.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...ea-origin.html

"Why would you use oil on a quality Scotch Dalmore Blue."

Could it be whale oil?