Thread: Removing metal without lapping

Anyone have any insight into ways to remove metal from a stone without lapping? I picked up a washita a while ago, I lapped all the surfaces flat but there is still metal stuck in the 'pores' on parts of the stone. Don't really want to lap much more, just a waste of stone. Wondering if there are any other solutions to the problem. Many thanks.

Apply honing oil, scrub with toothbrush, wash with soap, rinse. Repeat if necessary.

Already done a lot of scrubbing, Bar Keepers Friend, etc, the particulates are really embedded in there. I'm wanting to use this stone with water so oil is a no go. I thought about maybe leaving it in water for a while, see if the metal rusts out then might be easier to remove but could take a while. Any chemicals I could use?

Nitric acid would speed things along. 40% hydrogen peroxide from the beauty supply might work. I don't think either would damage the stone do to the high silica content.

Trapped stuff is just the way of vintage Washita's. It's only a problem if it's close enough to the top to float up and cause a problem. I'm afraid you are most likely not going to be able to get it all even if you gave it an aggressive lapping.

Oven cleaner, soaking in Simple Green or Awesome, or ultra-sonic cleaner.

Soaking and Ultrasound works. I have soaked some hard novaculites for over a year, they all come out clean.

Lapping with loose Silicone Carbide and steel cookie sheet will lap past any swarf or pull it out.

Post pics

I knew Euclid440 would be along shortly.
He is known to buy an old stone or 3 and clean them up.
I'd go with what he recommends.