Thread: Chemically/physically speaking, why does oil/glycerin make for a closer honing?

Originally Posted by Steve56

Very true Stefan,

But I wish you'd tell those guys in Japan that! I've had to soak many a jnat in isopropyl alcohol overnight to get rid of whatever that vile smelling yellow honing oil is that they sometimes use. Fortunately it does not seem to penetrate the stone that much and usually an overnight soak does it. A wooden dais soaked with it is however, another story.

Cheers, Steve

Where are you buying your Jnats from? I've had a good deal (but maybe not as much as you, who knows) pass through my hands and have never had this issue.

Originally Posted by kelbro

I always heard that glycerin 'made water wetter'.

Dawn dish soap will make water "wetter" it lowers the surface tension of the water. Try just one drop in your honing water sometime.
I also add a little Ballistol to my water more often than Dawn. It does the same thing pretty much.

Slawmeister.

Originally Posted by Steve56

Very true Stefan,

But I wish you'd tell those guys in Japan that! I've had to soak many a jnat in isopropyl alcohol overnight to get rid of whatever that vile smelling yellow honing oil is that they sometimes use. Fortunately it does not seem to penetrate the stone that much and usually an overnight soak does it. A wooden dais soaked with it is however, another story.

Cheers, Steve

Probably has fish oil in it!