Thread: Thuri with oil

Ok so not pure oil but Ballistol and water emulsion. Been doing this over the past 2 weeks or so, doesn't seem to improve (or degrade) the finish but the Ballistol provides a nice visual for the liquid displacement. Does anyone know why the warnings against oil were added originally? I vaguely remember a mention of it 'hardening' the stone, doesn't seem plausible imo.

It'll probably clog the stone and lessen its effectiveness or sharpening action

Coticules have been used with oil in the past. All vintage coticules that I ever bought were covered with oil and had a very distinctive engine room smell.

Originally Posted by Kees

Coticules have been used with oil in the past. All vintage coticules that I ever bought were covered with oil and had a very distinctive engine room smell.

If I finish on my coti I use it with oil. But back in the day many a Belgian rock was sold with instructions to use oil or water whereas the thuringian stones were adamant about using only water. Not sure about anyone else's stones but my thuri seems quite impervious to liquid so I can't imagine oil actually doing anything bad to the stone. I had a suspicion it had been used with oil in the past as the box had a slight bit of that engine room smell but I only used it with water until a couple weeks ago.

Originally Posted by thp001

Ok so not pure oil but Ballistol and water emulsion. Been doing this over the past 2 weeks or so, doesn't seem to improve (or degrade) the finish but the Ballistol provides a nice visual for the liquid displacement. Does anyone know why the warnings against oil were added originally? I vaguely remember a mention of it 'hardening' the stone, doesn't seem plausible imo.

I accidently picked up my smaller Thuringian hone after moving my arkansas loaded with mineral oil and my Thuringian hone now has had two oil finger prints! I have used it maybe 4 times since then and they have faded some but not much. I am keeping my oil away from the Thuringians!

Originally Posted by ables

I accidently picked up my smaller Thuringian hone after moving my arkansas loaded with mineral oil and my Thuringian hone now has had two oil finger prints! I have used it maybe 4 times since then and they have faded some but not much. I am keeping my oil away from the Thuringians!

I wonder if some of the stones are more porous than the others? I have one of the small "water razor hone" generic thuringian stones. Dark gray in color. Mine doesn't seem porous at all, when I was using it with only water the water would pool up unless I added a bit of soap.

All my Escher labels clearly state to not use 'em with oil and keep them away from fat.
They also mention to use the rubbing stone to create slime to finish your razors on.

I don't even own honing oil any longer

I won't let "Real" oil near my Waterstones including my Coticule
I use a water soluble solution on my Oilstones and have for about a decade now

We all know for a fact the actual oil clogs stones or at least those of use that have ever reconditioned an old Arkie or Charnley etc: do

I also know that if I bought a Coti or Thuri and sniffed oil use, I would ask for my money back

JMHO

Glycerin imo works as well. And water soluble. I know a few guys personally who have used oil on their cotis with no I'll effects. But oil is messy. I don't use any oil stones. I don't have a reason to.

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

keep them away from fat.

Define "away"? I try to keep them from contacting any fat, but I aint honing at arms length or anything.