Thread: Arkansas Stones - Oil or water?

Just wondering about the general consensus was for honing with Ark stones, I know they are traditionally "oil stones" but wondered what the master-honers here were using. Ive tried it with both, I feel like I get better feedback with water and wonder about oil plugging up the pores? I also finding it a pain switching back and forth with different stones during a honing session.
What do you guys use?
Thanks!

Oil or something water-based that's a good approximation of it (like ballistol).

In general, for fast cutting, a water displacer can be OK (WD 40, etc), or even good for the mid stones. The coarse stones keep their pores clear best with a light oil (like light mineral oil), and the fine stones work finest with a light oil (though a good stone with WD40 will also make a superb edge off of a good truly hard stone).

Plugging is the opposite - it occurs with drying oils. You want a non-drying oil like mineral oil, unused synthetic motor oil (i realize there will be aversion to that, but there is nothing toxic about unused synthetic oil - used is carcinogenic, though), light machine oils. There is no reason for a stinky oil, either, so no need to use 3 in 1 or even dan's honing oil (I don't have a clue why their oil stinks). Kitchen machine lubricant and cleaner (light mineral oil) is excellent.

Unscented baby oil is a bit heavier than light mineral oil, but you can use that, too.

You will see folks advocating water or soapy water from time to time, but the stones don't work as well with that, and use of it instead of a light oil is an issue of lack of analysis. If soapy water would've been better, people living hand to mouth 150 years ago wouldn't have used oil on these stones like they did.

Oil undoubtedly makes the better edge.

I mostly use water or a slick shave lather with mine in spite of knowing this. Mostly because that's what I have on hand at the honing station, and 'less effective' doesn't mean not effective at all. It's still an improvement over an 8K synthetic stone.

Smith's Honing Solution

Solved all my issues with using Oilstones around my expensive Waterstones / hones

Haven't ever looked back since I found it

The nice thing about Smith's is that you can vary its viscosity by adding less or more water to it right on the hone.

wow, 10 bucks an OZ on Amazon! Ill have to stick with Nortons.

Originally Posted by Utopian

The nice thing about Smith's is that you can vary its viscosity by adding less or more water to it right on the hone.

Yup. Exactly the same thing with Ballistol oil too. The thing I like about ballistol over Smiths is that I can buy it locally and I can get a 16oz bottle for much cheaper than Smiths and then use it all around the house. Wood knifehandles, leather, etc.

If you don't hone much on oil stones than it's not that big of a deal but I hone darn near daily on Washitas and Arkenstones and believe me the best water soluble cost effective solution is Ballistol oil.

All the other liquids work too just not for me.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Smith's Honing Solution

Solved all my issues with using Oilstones around my expensive Waterstones / hones

Haven't ever looked back since I found it

Do you happen to know if there's a difference between the two smith's honing solutions available?
looks like there's one with a red and white label (what you have pictured) vs one with a yellow and black label: https://www.smithsproducts.com/4oz-p...oning-solution

I’m still working out my favorite. I had to ditch the Dans because of the smell.

Ignore the spray. I took this pic for another purpose!

I have had success with Andis clipper oil. My experiments with ballistol have been promising as well (as others have said)

I found Dan's just a little too thick for me.

Water only produced a ragged edge. I didn't have much better success with glycerin.

Just my opinion

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