The preference of lubrication–water or oil–is left up to the user. Both will do the same job, swarfing the surface of the stone so it does a better job sharpening. However, there are other cases where one or the other must be used with a particular stone. Natural sharpening stones, for instance, mostly use water.
While plain water, windex ect. will work, Krud Kutter is the best lubricant to use for diamond sharpening stones.
A little goes a long way. I typically use WD-40. It's thin and does a good job of floating the sharpening crap away. Some people use mineral oil, but I find it to be a bit thicker than I like, but it might be fine for you. My grandfather used kerosene. So, as you can see, you have options.
A lot of natural stones are marketed as oilstones, and they do work nicely with oil. However they do not 'require' oil. The feel of the stone may be significantly different with water- try using a lighter touch with water.
While some stones – like those made of diamond or ceramic – can be used dry, they still usually benefit from a little water. Soaking the whetstone is important because it helps protect the stone from damage and wear. Sharpening your knives with a dry stone won't hurt the knife, but it will damage the stone over time.
The term “honing oil” in many cases refers to a petroleum based oil, however it is also used as a generic term to describe the liquid used in the honing process. Some people use Windex, Simple Green, and even water to sharpen that are not oil based.
Please Note: Never apply food oils such as vegetable or olive oil to sharpening stones. Only use honing oils approved for sharpening stones.
First, you will soak your whetstone in water. Fine grit whetstones only need a few minutes of soaking; some chefs do not soak their fine grit stones to prevent any risk of cracking. Coarse grit whetstones should soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Once soaked, place a coarse grit whetstone on top of a kitchen towel.
As for cleaning and flattening your stones, I would first clean them with some mineral spirits (paint thinner) to get all the old oil and grit off them. Scrub them down with a toothbrush to remove any stubborn spots. You might have to use a scouring powder as well.
Gun oil. Lubricating fluids for hunting and sporting weapons are of synthetic origin and are partially suitable as a honing oil. They protect the metal well from corrosion, which is important for knives with a blade made of low-quality steel.
While baby oil is safe to use on the skin as a moisturizer, it shouldn't be used as a sexual lubricant. Baby oil and other mineral oil products used as lubes can cause condom problems and skin irritation. It weakens condoms. Baby oil can weaken male and female condoms.
The reason for this is that the whetstone will be far more efficient if it is lubricated with water. Moreover, the stone won't wear as easily so it will last you longer. As you sharpen the blade, a build-up of swarf or slurry will occur which is a combination of the tiny pieces of metal you are removing from the knife.
whetstones are faster and more efficient, but they can also wear out faster. Maintenance: Oil stones require frequent oiling to keep them in good condition, while whetstones need to be soaked in water before use to prevent cracking.
Camellia oil. This oil has no smell, so it is comfortable to work with. Camellia oil is good for both sharpening with an abrasive whetstone, and for protecting the blade from corrosion. A thin film remains on the surface after treatment, preventing the steel from coming into contact with oxygen.
If your stone is already aging, you can bring it back to optimal functioning by using WD-40 and steel wool to get rid of dirt and oil. It is important you flatten your stone not less than every 10 sharpening sessions, which in turn will help keep it even and get rid of embedded, stubborn metal fillings.
Yes, a whetstone needs to be wet in order to be used. It should be soaked for at least 45 minutes, or per manufacturer instructions, Wetting the stone helps it last longer, while stones used dry tend to wear out faster.
First you need to decide which type of oil you would like to use. We used food grade mineral oil because it's the first choice for many experienced rock polishers. Jojoba oil seems to be the second choice and also more environmentally friendly.
The most popular natural stones for sharpening knives are the Arkansas stone and the American-made Norton sharpening stone, as well as Japanese knife sharpening stones. The Arkansas stone is a special fine-grained quartz consisting of fused crystalline grains 1-6 microns in size.
Water stones are softer than oil stones. This softer binder promotes faster cutting because the old abrasive material breaks away and is replaced with fresh sharp material. Fast cutting is a clear an advantage of the water stone. It is also available in a much wider range of grits than most other stones.
The purpose of an oil on an oilstone is to lubricate and carry away the waste from sharpening. WD-40 does neither of those well. 3in1 oil or mineral oil is a better bet. Most honing oils I've seen seem to be just mineral oil.
For best results whenever you hone, Brush Research Manufacturing (BRM) recommends using Flex-Hone® oil.