Question about honing oil?

Lunar-Tic · July 05, 2010, 11:30:00 AM

I have recently ran out of honing oil and was wondering if I could use 3&1 oil in it's place. Does anyone know what the major difference might be and could it possibly damage my sharpening stones?

robtattoo · July 05, 2010, 11:32:00 AM

3-in-1 is waaay to thick. If you've been using honing oil, keep using it. Have a look on KME's website. Ron will sell you some more there.
If you switch to a thicker oil, you'll end up gumming up your stones.

LAR43 · July 05, 2010, 11:36:00 AM

Kerosene or Diesel fuel . . maybe with a couple drops of 3&1. I'd go with Kerosene myself.

As Rob said above, the oil is more to keep the stone clean than it is to lubricate anything.

Larry

lpcjon2 · July 05, 2010, 12:10:00 PM

I use vegetable oil on my stones and never had a problem

Bladepeek · July 05, 2010, 12:57:00 PM

Kerosene works fine, but stinks up the whole area. Pick up a bottle of lamp oil at your local big box store. That's what I use for my knife sharpening. Works as good as kerosene, doesn't let the pores of the stone fill up and smells as good as a pretty girl.
Ron

**DONOTDELETE** · July 05, 2010, 01:01:00 PM

Olive Oil

Fletcher · July 05, 2010, 01:17:00 PM

wd-40

Bowsin · July 05, 2010, 04:13:00 PM

I read a note from a company that sharpens knives for meat processing plants and they say that you get a sharper edge when you dont use oil . They clean the stones between use with hot water and soap .

No-sage · July 05, 2010, 04:35:00 PM

Larry is right. Oil is only needed to "float" the metal particles so they don't get into the pores of your stone. It's not for lubrication.

Sharpster · July 05, 2010, 04:48:00 PM

You can use just about ant lightweight oil- Gun oil, 3in1, even vegetable oil. My personal favorites are CRC Screwloose or Liquid Wrench. These are both water-thin and make excellent honing oils. One note- do Not use WD-40. It's great for guns because it drys like varnish creating a barrier between the steel and any water/moisture. When used on a sharpening stone however, after the WD drys and hardens it locks the metal filings into the pores of the stone, making cleaning them a nightmare!

Ron

Lamey · July 05, 2010, 06:01:00 PM

WD 40 works the best for me, it dont load up your stone as most honing oil, veg., 3-1 etc. will do .

Orion · July 05, 2010, 07:35:00 PM

Mike Vines · July 05, 2010, 09:01:00 PM

I use mineral oil on my stone, and it does a wondeful job. Any type of cooking oil has the ability to go rancid on you, and therefor I would not use it. I use mineral oil for all the cutting boards I make also. I usually make close to a dozen a year as gifts.

MR BILL SHORTY · July 05, 2010, 09:15:00 PM

MINERAL SPIRITS YOU CAN GET THE ODORLESS BUT IT STILL HAS A SMELL

Butch Speer · July 05, 2010, 09:19:00 PM

I'm with Grapes. Been using plain old mineral oil for a long time. Works great. Doesn't cog your stone & it's cheap. Non toxic too. 3&1 & motor oil are made to protect metal. Kind of defeats the purpose when using it to remove metal.

July 05, 2010, 09:21:00 PM

dawn liquid dish soap works great, and cleans your stone too.

B/W lvr · July 05, 2010, 09:41:00 PM

I sharpen dry and wash the stones when they get too dirty. If I was looking for an oil I would use Marvel Mystery oil or auto transmission fluid. Frank

Lunar-Tic · July 06, 2010, 12:30:00 PM

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll try a few different ways and see what works best.

Jeremy · July 06, 2010, 12:51:00 PM

The food-safe honing oils are all a highly refined light mineral oil.

Fletcher · July 06, 2010, 10:01:00 PM

Well, Ron, you've likely forgotten more about sharpening than I know, so I'll back off on the WD-40. I've always wiped it off when done so maybe that is why I never had it set up on the stone.

Even brake fluid works well, but it will eat the paint off your Zwickeys. :eek: