Thread: How to clean a hone

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Arkansas, maybe Washita

Agreed, washita most likely.

Thank you all for the help! It is much appreciated! For just a few dollars I got some excellent hones that will serve me well as I get into honing!

I'll definitely cover the label up with some nail polish before I actually use it Utopian. A very good idea. I might find straight razors aren't for me, but I'm highly doubting it. It's something that has always interested me. And a thank you on the magazine as well! I'll make sure not to give them any business!

Just one last question for the assumed Arkansas Wachita. Is it clean enough? They may not look as dirty as it was before, but it still has a good bit left, but after 3 times with the Easy Off Fume Free I just couldn't get anything more. Soap and water was of no help either to finish off with. I tried to lap it as well, and I had to stop after an hour and a half. I'll wait to get a DMT 325 grit stone to lap the hones!

Originally Posted by kooshman7

Just one last question for the assumed Arkansas Wachita. Is it clean enough? They may not look as dirty as it was before, but it still has a good bit left, but after 3 times with the Easy Off Fume Free I just couldn't get anything more. Soap and water was of no help either to finish off with. I tried to lap it as well, and I had to stop after an hour and a half. I'll wait to get a DMT 325 grit stone to lap the hones!

Looks yust fine & yeah diamond plates are great for lapping.

If it is Washita then 1.5 hour of lapping is not a lot. If you want to ry to get more out try to put it into into a bucket of salt, or powdered chalk and leave it somewhere realy warm. This often helps otherwise you would have to lap off a lot of stone.

Thanks again for all the help with identifying the stones and what to do! It is much appreciated! I should be good on the questions for now.

The oven cleaner is a good way to get rid of a lot of crud really fast but now you have seen its limits.
One other idea.... a few years back I was told to use "Starter Fluid" as a cleaner because it is pure ether and dissolves most everything. I have used it on other things but so far not on a hone. Maybe worth a try?

Paint stripper, toulene, MEK?


Just my $.02,

Originally Posted by randydance062449

The oven cleaner is a good way to get rid of a lot of crud really fast but now you have seen its limits.
One other idea.... a few years back I was told to use "Starter Fluid" as a cleaner because it is pure ether and dissolves most everything. I have used it on other things but so far not on a hone. Maybe worth a try?

Paint stripper, toulene, MEK?


Just my $.02,

Maybe not such a good idea on some of the barber hones though, huh?

Good point. Maybe not for some man made hones but I was thinking of the Arkansas type hones.

I think the problem with these stones is that they are porous ant the muck gets withthe oil deeply inside. I have tried before to use spray which is used for cleaning disc brakes which did get the oil off however the muck stayed inside.

Hmmm...maybe a soak in a tank filled with a solvent then alternately apply pressure & vacuum?

Just some random thoughts,