Thread: Pike Washita Oilstone

I got one of these today. It has the label intact. It says "Pike Washita Oilstone - Cut from natural rock and used the world over for carpenters and general woodworking use. Gives a medium fine edge."

It looks as if it's been oiled. I used wet or dry sandpaper and a DMT D8C to lap the wide side, and after all the oil impregnated surface was removed, it's a nice pale yellow, and feels very smooth to the touch, but not buttery like the Escher.

I'm not at all familiar with this stone, other than the brand Pike (Norton). I use Escher and Thuringian stones for finishing my razors with consistently excellent results, and I wouldn't try a razor on this stone unless someone tells me it's not just for knives or tools. Is this a rock that one might be able to use on a razor at some stage of the process, from the 1K on up, or not? What can you guys tell me?

I use mine for pocket knives before going to the soft arkansas. I suppose , if you didn't have a 1k you could use it to set a bevel but I never have tried it.

Jimmy, I've got a few old razors laying around that need bevels and an edge. Maybe it would be fun to see how well it works setting the bevel and popping arm hairs. Who knows, it might be just fine for that. I'll try to remember to come back and post about it.

Be sure to use a fine oil on it like a no parrafin lamp oil. This will help prevent clogging of the stone with swarf.
I also have that stone and have tried it on razors. IMHO it ranks as maybe a effective grit of 600-800 but it is a very slow cutter of hard steel.

Just one more point....when using the fine lamp oil or kerosene when you test the edge with your thumb is will give you a false positive of being very sharp. The best way to test your progress is to wash off the oil with a soap then test or use a different test like the arm hair test.

Hope this helps.