Thread: Why not to store in water

So, I have a set of Norton's. The two combo stones give me the 4 grits offered by Norton. I really don't have any issue with these stones and I can hone well enough that the shave is comfortable.

About 4 months ago I tried to hone one of my razors and the test shave was less than stellar. The problem is I ran out of time, so I set the razor and hones down to come back the next day or later that week. The hones sat in a tupperware full of water with a rag between them so they didn't bump or grind.

I pulled out the razor today thinking 'I am going to fix that razor'. To my horror the rag between the rags was black. Also, the side of each hone that touched the rag was black. Mold had somehow grown in the tupperware.

I have lapped the hones but in some places it is still black. Any thoughts on how to get rid of it totally?

I hate to say, but my first thought is a mild bleach solution...

I HAVE NEVER TRIED THIS !!!!!

But let me know if you do, and if it works...

Alternately if you can wait, leave them out in the sun for a few days. That will kill off any mold on them and you should be able to rinse it out or get it off with a tooth brush.

I was told when I bought mine to store in a mild bleach solution. Mine sit in a covered plastic shoe box with about a cap full of bleach and I change the water out once a month or when I don't smell bleach in it. Have had no problems.......

Barry

See now there ya go, I was told never store them in water period, as the glue between the sides can seperate....

I guess that is the classic YMMV

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I guess that is the classic YMMV

Glen,

I guess yes. My buddy that sold them to me and taught me to hone a hand plane studied under Garrett Hack of Fine Woodworking for two years. I know his sit in a bucket of water all the time and his are almost worn out. Not to say that there may not be issues but they haven't experienced any.......

I wonder if it was mostly to do with the rag that was between them. They only have mold where the rag was.

Hit it with about 10 percent bleach to water and that should kill all the uglies.... May still have discoloration but that will only be asthetics.

Barry

Well, I did it. A little bleach in some water and 2 minutes later the stones aren't black. Which is nice. I don't think it has adversely effected the stones. I don't have a razor that needs to be honed. So I can figure that part out later.

On a side note. If anyone wants to give me a razor to test hone that would be sweet. I'll even write a receipt for a tax write off.

Good question, I wonder if anyone has ever tried camden tablets to sterilize the water they store their stones. I use it when making beer and wine, it is potassium metabisulfite and used to sterilize equipment. You just dissolve it in water to kill all the nasties etc. seems like it would work fine to prevent bacterial growth in your hone pond and just rinse right off.