Thread: washita

I bought a washita! I spent more than I should have, but it's just impossible to go around to flea markets and thrift stores these days. It will need a good lapping, and there's some gunk on there that I'll need to clean off. And before I can do that I'll need to figure out how to get it out of the box (preferably in a way that preserves the box as well, it's a nice one). But I'm pretty excited about this stone!

Congrats. Did it come with a lid for the box?

yes, it did! Sorry for the bad lighting, it's starting to get dark.

I remember reading about how to get a stone out of a box without damaging them, but I can’t seem to find anything now. If anyone has any suggestions, I’m all ears!

Just take a small hammer and tap on the box, lite taps. Do not hit the stone. You will hear a different sound when the stone breaks loose. Then tap the other side. And it will pop out without damage.

You might spray it down with oven cleaner first to remove any swarf on the surface of the stone and box.

Chances are the bottom is pristine, Lap the good side with 60 grit , Silicon Carbide from Got Grit.com and a steel cookie sheet from the dollar store. $15 will get you all the grits from 60-500.

Very nice. That's a nice size stone and I really like the box. You're going to have a good bit of work to get that flat but just be patient. It will be worth it. Congratulations, I think you'll really like that stone. Let us know how your progress goes.

Nice find.!
A very versatile hone you have there. I have two of them, love them both. A well burnished hone can be capable of a 8k finish by playing with different lubricants.

My butterscotch Washita is very burnished, and capable of a 5k finish with just water. My favorite for after a bevel set, it really tightens up that 1k finish.



The white Washita ( Pike ) I use mainly for knives .

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Just take a small hammer and tap on the box, lite taps. Do not hit the stone. You will hear a different sound when the stone breaks loose. Then tap the other side. And it will pop out without damage.

You might spray it down with oven cleaner first to remove any swarf on the surface of the stone and box.

Thanks! I'll try with my peening hammer.

We don't usually have oven cleaner in the house (we use a baking soda paste & vinegar), any other suggestions for gunk removal that won't damage the box? I know simple green and other degreasers are good for the stone, but will they damage the box?

I buy dollar store oven cleaner for cleaning stones, it will save you a lot of time and quickly remove thick crud.

For cleaning boxes, I spray down with WD40, it is a good crud cutting solvent. Scrub with a stiff brush and wipe with paper towels until the residue does not come off, then rinse with mineral spirits.

I then paint on a 50/50 mineral spirits and Linseed oil and let it soak in if it gets sticky paint on another coat and wipe off. Then lightly brush on a pure linseed finish and wipe off after a few minutes. If really dry add another coat the next day. Linseed applied regularly can heel a lot of sins for neglected wood. The smell goes away after a few days.

You can get a box wet if you wipe dry and set in the sun to dry. If a box is moldy and smells, after WD40 I wash with a good degreaser, lately I have used Dawn Degreaser and set in the sun to dry. Spraying or wiping with vinegar will kill mold on stubborn smelly boxes.

Rehydrate with thinned Linseed and full strength. For final finish I use Bee’s wax finish, Howard’s Feed &Wax. The wax will provide some protection and a bit of shine.

I restore a lot of antique tools, so always cleaning moldy boxes, wood is not as delicate as people think, Wooden boats?

It was used for strength in fiberglass boats, for many years. Now its all composite, so nothing can rott.

Its why they cost so much now, the hulls will practically last forever, just like a good Washita.