Cleaning a Whetstone

[Ironclad]

Just a tip I figured out by trial and error a while back - When a whet stone gets all clogged up and gunky, CLR and an old toothbrush clean it right out. I have tried it on a diamond stone and an arkansas stone and they are both much improved. If anybody knows anything that works better please share.

 

[rcmodel]

Whet stones can benifit from a soak and scrubbing in mineral spirits, then re-oiled with sharpening stone cutting oil.

Diamond stones are best cleaned with hot soap & water and a brush.
Cleaning with, or Leaving oil on them just makes them clog faster.

Ceremic stones should be cleaned with Ajax or other kitchen scouring powder and water, and dried.

rc

 

[GLOOB]

My oldest Arkansas stone is only 10 years old, but I have never had a problem with an Arkansas stone. The hard/translucent stones, in particular, seem fairly immune to loading. I use my pocket translucent ark dry, most of the time, and I just occasionally wipe with oil to clean it.

Manmades seem like they're more prone to clogging if they aren't pre-loaded. I leave my assorted manmade oil stones in a bag just wet with mineral oil. My big india benchstone is a Norton that came nicely presoaked, so that guy I just wipe down when I'm done.

I'll keep the CLR trick in mind, if I ever need it.

 

[ironworkerwill]

A swipe with soapstone before the stone is used will slow clogging. Also, I've found Ronsonol(Zippo type lighter fluid) makes a good hone oil and stone cleaner.

 

[hillbilly matt]

I don't like to use oil on my stones ,only water. But if I do see some build up I just rinse it and hit it with a stiff brush

 

[rcmodel]

If you have an oil stone, water won't work worth a darn!

It just beads up and does nothing to keep the stone from loading up.

rc

 

[JohnKSa]

The white plastic pencil erasers are really good for cleaning fine grit whetstones.

These work pretty well but not that much better than a white plastic pencil eraser.

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/LSLERAS/Lansky-Eraser-Block-Multi-Surface-Cleaner

If this is what I think it is, it works better than either one. Be careful about using it on a knife (although they recommend it for that) as it will leave fine scratches.

http://catalog.mooremaker.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=392630

Haven't tried one of these but it looks like it might work well.

http://www.sharpknives.com/messermeister_mu_whetstone_cleaner.htm

I don't use oil on whetstones. It's messy, it gunks them up and makes it necessary to clean them more often than you really should have to. Hit the stone with an eraser to clean it up after you finish sharpening and forget about the oil. If you have a stone that's already been oiled, degrease it thoroughly, quit using oil and use the eraser technique when you do need to clean it.

 

[Field Tester]

Whet stones can benifit from a soak and scrubbing in mineral spirits, then re-oiled with sharpening stone cutting oil.

Diamond stones are best cleaned with hot soap & water and a brush.
Cleaning with, or Leaving oil on them just makes them clog faster.

Ceremic stones should be cleaned with Ajax or other kitchen scouring powder and water, and dried.

rc

RC,

That makes sense since you may have to use any freshly stoned knife on food.
Best to keep possible poisonous oils away from your sharpening products.

 

[lemaymiami]

Guess I'm one of the old-fashioned types since I still use oil on most of my stones (natural and carborundum manufactured types..). For my kitchen and my boat (I'm a full time fishing guide working out of a small skiff.... so I cut a lot of fish for my anglers) I only use stones with water. I have one for the kitchen and one or two for the boat that have never seen a drop of oil.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I use oil on my stones whenever sharpening, and 3in1 works fine.
I use a bench mounted Medium India, finished with a Hard Arkansas and have never given a thought to "cleaning" the stones.
In my mind, the oil is there to keep the stone from clogging.
I've been using the same stones for about 30 years.
I'll welcome any advice!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Soap and water .

 

[Slamfire]

Soft scrub and a toothbrush.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Probably gonna give some purists the "epizootics" but....

I have always been happy with the solvent action and hillbilly pressure-washer effect of WD-40.

Todd.

 

[C.R.]

I read somewhere that dawn dish soap works well sudz it up and it will float all of the grit off . I havent needed to try it yet but im keeping it in mind

 

[conw]

Whet stones can benifit from a soak and scrubbing in mineral spirits, then re-oiled with sharpening stone cutting oil.

Diamond stones are best cleaned with hot soap & water and a brush.
Cleaning with, or Leaving oil on them just makes them clog faster.

Ceremic stones should be cleaned with Ajax or other kitchen scouring powder and water, and dried.

rc

Great post

Large rubber pencil erasers are a good "in the field" option that can work for ceramics in a pinch. Simply rub vigorously until it starts cutting metal again.

 

[Drail]

Colgate Exra Whitening with Tartar Control and Peroxide Fresh Mint Flavor.

 

[bubba in ca]

I lube with mineral oil and wipe it off with a rag immediately when finished sharpening. wet gunk goes away much easier than dry gunk.

 

[MartinS]

White vinegar, read that someplace sometime. Acid eats the steel particles?

 

[GLOOB]

Soft scrub and a toothbrush.

Yes, a nylon brush works wonders. With soap and water or mineral oil. This is how I clean stubborn steel flakes out of my pocket stone, which I usually use dry.