Originally Posted by
Euclid440
I use a teaspoon of dish soap in a squirt bottle of water, the soap seems to prevent or lessen swarf build up on synthetic stones.
I use Smiths on natural stones with water. The Smiths and oils cushion the blade on the stone hydraulically and allow the razor to just touch the tips of the grit on the stone thereby lighting pressure and stria.
Soap and oil does not work to cushion the razor on most synthetic stones as they are too porous and the solution does not sit on top of the stone, except for very fine stones like barber hones.
2-3 drop of Smith’s on a wet natural will squeak out maximum performance from a finish stone.
I put Smith is a bottle that will dispense a single drop, I use a one ounce bottle with good results.