oil stones.

[tobytools]

can anyone tell me what that think the grits are of my oil stones, some have norton on then with fine, medium but i have a load with nothing on then, they range in colour ect,
im sure they are just a range of mediums and fines but i have a few very dark stones almost like slate are these just polish stones as they do give a mirror look, i will post photos after work. i also have what i think is called " Belgium yellow" its a combination stone with a blue on the other side. its a natural stone i believe where as the others are synthetic.
i have a big collection of stones. and just a few other questions lap my stones on a concrete slab to get them flat if they concave ect. how do others flat stone, and clean them? i got some really gunky stone and some one said to boil them in water with a bit of washing up liquid and it did work, some one said put them in washing machine but i dont own one and if i did im not sure about that one.
i prefer stones to a tormek of belt sander. (keeping the old ways alive)

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I prefer not to have arthritis in my fingers!

 

[Jacob]

.... lap my stones on a concrete slab to get them flat if they concave ect. how do others flat stone, and clean them? ....

I don't bother flattening them. If you use them carefully they stay flat enough. I don't clean them either. Just an occasional quick refresh with a 3m diapad or something similar.
If I had an old gunged up one I might just use it, but with white spirit, and refresh the surface more often. If you are going to scrub away at these things it might as well be with a chisel or plane blade and you get it sharp in the process.

 

[bugbear]

can anyone tell me what that think the grits are of my oil stones, some have norton on then with fine, medium but i have a load with nothing on then, they range in colour ect,
im sure they are just a range of mediums and fines but i have a few very dark stones almost like slate are these just polish stones as they do give a mirror look, i will post photos after work. i also have what i think is called " Belgium yellow" its a combination stone with a blue on the other side. its a natural stone i believe where as the others are synthetic.

You might find this helpful:

"Natural 19th and Early 20th Century Sharpening Stones and Hones by Brian Read and Doug Morgan"

http://www.taths.org.uk/special-publications.htm

Information is power, and all that.

BugBear

 

[James-1986]

I clean clogged stones with petrol.

 

[tobytools]

Petrol! I'll have to give that ago thanks. And bugbear cheers for the link I'll have a look when in on laptop not mobile, thanks again.

 

[Dangermouse]

May I ask why you have a " big collection" of oil stones, as I would have though that three were enough for anyone, course, medium and fine.

 

[tobytools]

Tbh I don't really know. I got a few of great grandad, got a few in a joblot, seen a few dirt cheap got them. I guess you don't need to many but I have and if I drop one I can replace it. Its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I do a bit of wood carving and bowl making. So i need ones to sharpen v gouges ect. There's a bloke on the internet in Japan or china and he gas like 10,000 stones :-S

 

[bugbear]

May I ask why you have a " big collection" of oil stones, as I would have though that three were enough for anyone, course, medium and fine.

IIRC the Late Jim Kingshott had a couple of large drawers full of various stones he'd bought/tried.

BugBear

 

[tobytools]

May I ask why you have a " big collection" of oil stones, as I would have though that three were enough for anyone, course, medium and fine.

IIRC the Late Jim Kingshott had a couple of large drawers full of various stones he'd bought/tried.

BugBear

Thanks bugbear, also they come in various shapes and sizes depending on what you want them for. I would advise you to get a few more stone if you like the mirror look on your edge like i do

 

[Sheffield Tony]

I cleaned my well gunked up oilstone with paraffin. Worked remarkably well - petrol would do likewise I guess but with a higher danger factor.

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

Here in the States, stones are dirt cheap - say a couple of bucks each, as many at flea markets have no idea of the identity. At tool sales, prices can be all over the map, but mostly determined by type of case.

At a couple of bucks each and with a bit of experience, you can tell what stones are natural and which ones may be made made (india or other). I find it hard to let a perfectly good stone sit there, with a price of a couple of bucks! I have paid as much as $80 for an excellent translucent arkansas, but the price was more for the finely crafted aluminum case, with an inscribed brass inlay. Going price for carved cases w/oilstones is around $25 to $35.00. Needless to say, I've accumulated quite a number of stones and am always on the lookout for the next best one, but my normal set up is a vintage washita and vintage black arkansas. Using those two, a a couple of wipes on a dry strop and hairs just pop off my arm before I even think of shaving them.

As far as flattening, I generally don't with oilstones, as I free hand sharpen, using the whole stone. Seems I've gotten pretty much used to the lay of the land and if there is a bit of a dish, I don't crap my pants worrying about it. For cleaning, again I don't get my shorts in a knot. I keep the stones wiped clean and when honing, add a couple of drops of Marvel Mystery oil. Stones are wiped off before I put them away. If you really insist on cleaning oilstones, you can put them in the Missus's dishwasher, but be prepared for consequences. An easier method is to give them a good soak in oven cleaner and then scrub in hot water. But again, that stuff ain't the cut of my jib. My hobby is trying to make things and not sharpening.

I generally don't post much over here (though I check in & read several times a week), but since I have maybe 3 or 4 dozen oilstones, I thought I would add a bit. I also have hundreds of plumb bob, so if someone gets a thread going about them, I'll pipe in!

 

[tobytools]

tony i agree, i cant just let them go, as you say for they dont cost much. that case sound beautiful can u share a pic? my eyes are all ways out for natural stones, aswell as every thing else. i only have wooden cases for my stones, need to make some more tbh have a few just in a box. thanks for the post.
i hone my carving tools by hand aswell as my axe and adze but with plane irons and bevel chisels i use the mk2 honing guide. if its just a touch up then will some times use hand if im to lazy to set up system but if im sorting out a new chisel (old) then the guide help to get it to the angles i want and put a micro bevel on it easily.
thanks again tony

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

Don't know how to attach photos, but if someone sends me an email address and if they'll attach them, I'll post some pictures of some of my stones. I may even send some pics of plumb bobs!

 

[tobytools]

next to submit there is "full editor" click that and attach photo, if i can do it you can im **** whith computers lol. or click forums, hand tools and there is a bit that shows you, thanks. okok your dieing to show of you bobs so sent a bic of them to

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

Next day or so, I'll try to get a few pics up. Now if I can also put some "bobs" how about a few of the miter boxes?

I don't "accumulate" much anymore as prices have gone beyond what I would pay, but there was a time when things could be had on the cheap. It was hard passing by that oilstone for a buck of two, the same with plumb bobs. Just last summer I picked up a Stanley 358A miter box for $6.00. No saw, but the box itself did not have any abusive owner in its past. Now at the same sales, you find some goomer trying to sell a post war #4, with a cheek broke off, missing a tote for $50.00. Don't understand prices!

 

[tobytools]

Ye why not I can tell you really want to share you bobs. I've picked up a coupe nothing special tho. I know what you meant about prices. EBay is where prices are strangest. Some times super night or just dam right stupid but if U keep looking and target the ones who list stuff incorrect you can do alright, I got a Stanley no6 plane, Brest drill, and brace plus a few block planes all in good night for £5. I picked up locally so wad a right winner, put as many pic on as you like as were off the oil stones now lol

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

This is an attempt to post a couple of pics of some cased oilstones I picked up. If the pics don't show, well, mark it up to my computer illiteracy!

/Users/Silvy/Desktop/IMGP0968.JPG




/Users/Silvy/Desktop/IMGP0969.JPG

 

[bugbear]

This is an attempt to post a couple of pics of some cased oilstones I picked up. If the pics don't show, well, mark it up to my computer illiteracy!

/Users/Silvy/Desktop/IMGP0968.JPG




/Users/Silvy/Desktop/IMGP0969.JPG

No, those filenames are fine. If you'll just make your computer publicly available on the internet, everything will work out. It's perfectly safe... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

BugBear

 

[Tony Zaffuto]

BB,

Not sure if I'll do that! Problem is, I think the pic sizes are too large, plus my computer is a Mac. If anyone wants to see the aluminum cased stone, PM me. Otherwise, I'll ponder things to see if I can get this figured out.

T.Z.