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

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If you want to skip to what oil does, check around 3:20.

Granted with sharpening stones we're not looking at 2 polished metal surfaces, the pricinpal is the same even though it's a polished surface and an abrasive. The blade will actually ride atop the oil, and the abrasive won't be able to cut as deep. Thicker oil will make for a better film and less contact. Put some 80-90 on your finishing hone and you'll never manage to remove enough metal to get any work out of it.