Thread: Glazed man-made stones?

I have a couple man-made knife whetstones (either silicon carbide or aluminum oxide, I can't tell the difference) which have begun to glaze. Not clog, mind you: I use these under a stream of water to flush out the swarf. By glaze, I mean that the abrasive action of repeated use has leveled the microscopic abrasive mountain-tops, so it looks shiny if you get the light at the right angle. Blades are starting to glide over them without that draggy friction feeling of a stone that's really working well.

Should I try to fix this somehow? If so, how?

I don't know much about it but someone on here told me to put some dish soap in some water and put that on my hone. It works really well when I hone and keeps my hones really clean. No cloging. Try that and see what happens. It won't hurt your stone and it might clean it when you are honing.

Originally Posted by Johnny J

I have a couple man-made knife whetstones (either silicon carbide or aluminum oxide, I can't tell the difference) which have begun to glaze. Not clog, mind you: I use these under a stream of water to flush out the swarf. By glaze, I mean that the abrasive action of repeated use has leveled the microscopic abrasive mountain-tops, so it looks shiny if you get the light at the right angle. Blades are starting to glide over them without that draggy friction feeling of a stone that's really working well.

Should I try to fix this somehow? If so, how?

For a razor do not fix -- perhaps a brush and pot cleaner.

If not for a razor, you can dust it with loose abrasive and
then work that slurry with a steel blank. Some kitchen
cleaners have enough grit to perk up a stone.

EDIT:
I do have some 8K loose abrasive that I do occasionally apply to
a "shiny" stone. Even a 320 grit stone.... I have no idea where to
get any more but a film can size amount has lasted +15 years.
I do have a leather strop glued to a board that is pasted with
this 8K grit. It does polish up a kitchen knife nicely.

I'd second scrubbing - scotch bright or similar may do it. If not, can you lap the stone? That works on all the stones I've ever used.

If they have been used with oil you might do oven cleaner. One way or the other I would lap them to get down to new abrasive + flat.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

can you lap the stone? That works on all the stones I've ever used.

I've tried wet/dry sandpaper & the stone is so farking hard, I'm lapping & lapping & nothing seems to be happening.

This may sound silly, but try some Bar Keepers Freind with a potato brush. You might be very surprised!!!
Mike