Thread: My newest coticule....

...has been soaked in oil.

It's a vintage coticule. Apparently the previous owner was a big fan of honing oil. I thought that coticules were not porous, but it sure is acting like it is. I can't get the damn oil out of it. I've been brushing it like crazy with Ivory liquid, Goo Gone, and every other degreaser I can find. It still has oil in it.

I've even lapped it. It's totally flat now, and there is not very much useful thickness left in the yellow side, so I really don't want to get too jiggy with further lapping.

Anything else I can try??

Pizza, Contact Rob, Send him a PM or go to his site, this is his busy time of year, that's probably why he hasn't been on the forum latey. He may have a suggestion, or even Bart may know. OIL's a bitch, I don't know, other than a strong degreaser.
I'm not sure what effect the degreaser would have on a Coticule if any. If it's Vintage, That oil's probably been rubbed in for years and years. You may never get it all out. What if you just left it in soapy water for a few days, or weeks? Since oil doesn't mix with water, it may come out eventually, you'll see it floating on the top. I would try that, if you haven't yet...
Rich

Howard and others have successfully used oven cleaner. If you do a search in the archives you may find a post by Kees who had an Escher that got oil on it and there is a lot of feedback there.

Zib and Jimmy... huge thanks gents. I'm going to try the oven cleaner followed by letting it soak for a week or so in some very good citrus-based degreaser I have.

And Zib... yeah, it really looks like this thing has been soaking in oil for over a hundred years.

Here is a post by Howard that might help. He is a stone collector and has gotten many in that condition.

check forum oldschool had oil on escher and he used salt to remove it.Just make sure .i don't want you do something wrong to hone.

I read somehere, possibly one of my blacksmithing books, that to de-oil a stone, you could soak it in a pertolium solvent, like kerosene, and once all the oil had been disolved out, you "baked" the kerosene out of the stone with gentle heat. but that was likley for harsh grit grinding stones and something that fine might not like it.

Man, you guys are great... thanks everyone... there might be hope for that old coticule yet!

Originally Posted by GadgetGeek

I read somehere, possibly one of my blacksmithing books, that to de-oil a stone, you could soak it in a pertolium solvent, like kerosene, and once all the oil had been disolved out, you "baked" the kerosene out of the stone with gentle heat. but that was likley for harsh grit grinding stones and something that fine might not like it.

Naphta is an excellent solvent. The most common source would be the Ronsonol lighter fluid. See its composition info here: http://www.cooperbooth.com/datasheets/160606.pdf

Originally Posted by GadgetGeek

I read somehere, possibly one of my blacksmithing books, that to de-oil a stone, you could soak it in a pertolium solvent, like kerosene, and once all the oil had been disolved out, you "baked" the kerosene out of the stone with gentle heat. but that was likley for harsh grit grinding stones and something that fine might not like it.

I don't have anything new to add and have never had this problem other than on a couple of Carborundums that were so impermeable that I was able to lap the oil off. Anyway, I feel obliged to warn of the potential for danger when adding heat to a kerosene soaked hone. I know this is obvious but a reminder seems in order--don't blow up your hone!

Also, regarding the suggestion of salt to draw out the oil. It seems chemically improbable and I think I remember that it did not work.