All About Pocket Knives

FRJ wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 3:47 am Congratulations on the new stone, Art. How big is it?

I don't think any break in is required.
Since it's new, now is a chance to determine weather you want to use oil or water on your new stone.
I have used water for years but just thought I'd throw that out there.

That's a very hard stone so I assume you will use it to refine your already established edge.

Love to see folks using stones.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 3:37 pm I’ve used stones of various kinds (carborundum, Arkansas, etc) for sixty years. Never heard of “breaking in” one. Just use it. I do agree with Joe about deciding whether to use oil of water on it. I’m a fan of water myself. And keep it clean. There are posts here about how to clean stones.

Ken

Brumbydownunder wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:47 pm

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 3:37 pm I’ve used stones of various kinds (carborundum, Arkansas, etc) for sixty years. Never heard of “breaking in” one. Just use it. I do agree with Joe about deciding whether to use oil of water on it. I’m a fan of water myself. And keep it clean. There are posts here about how to clean stones.

Ken

Ken I'd not heard of it either until I recently bought a new 3 x 10 Carborundum Stone - mainly for the older and larger knives I buy that need lots of work.

Anyway I was about to use it for the first time ... I spread some 3 in 1 oil on it and by the time I'd picked up the knife the oil was gone! Added more oil ..Gone! I'm in a very dry climate in Australia
That stone was soaking up oil as fast as I could apply it. I spoke with a Mate an old guy who does a lot of his own on-farm butchering he told me he 'primes' (his word) his new stone with Kerosene putting it in a low tray and completely submerges it with Kero for a few days. He repeats the process every now and then. He also uses Kerosene as his sharpening medium/liquid.

I've copied his system and it's working well.

Derek

Brumbydownunder wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:47 pm

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 3:37 pm I’ve used stones of various kinds (carborundum, Arkansas, etc) for sixty years. Never heard of “breaking in” one. Just use it. I do agree with Joe about deciding whether to use oil of water on it. I’m a fan of water myself. And keep it clean. There are posts here about how to clean stones.

Ken

Ken I'd not heard of it either until I recently bought a new 3 x 10 Carborundum Stone - mainly for the older and larger knives I buy that need lots of work.

Anyway I was about to use it for the first time ... I spread some 3 in 1 oil on it and by the time I'd picked up the knife the oil was gone! Added more oil ..Gone! I'm in a very dry climate in Australia
That stone was soaking up oil as fast as I could apply it. I spoke with a Mate an old guy who does a lot of his own on-farm butchering he told me he 'primes' (his word) his new stone with Kerosene putting it in a low tray and completely submerges it with Kero for a few days. He repeats the process every now and then. He also uses Kerosene as his sharpening medium/liquid.

I've copied his system and it's working well.

Derek

TPK wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:39 pm If you used water on a new stone over a longer timeframe, and then you decided you would like to try it with oil, could you just change & start useing oil on it?

I'd guess from oil to water would not work because the oil would be in the stone but from water to oil should work because the water dries out of the stone.

Just curious. I have a new stone I have never used. I have never sharpend a knife. At least not yet. I would like to buy a book on knife sharpening but I'm not sure which one.

I know, I'm on the wrong thread for these questions. Sorry.

TPK wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:39 pm If you used water on a new stone over a longer timeframe, and then you decided you would like to try it with oil, could you just change & start useing oil on it?

I'd guess from oil to water would not work because the oil would be in the stone but from water to oil should work because the water dries out of the stone.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 5:43 pm

TPK wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:39 pm If you used water on a new stone over a longer timeframe, and then you decided you would like to try it with oil, could you just change & start useing oil on it?

I'd guess from oil to water would not work because the oil would be in the stone but from water to oil should work because the water dries out of the stone.

I probably don’t know any better, but I switched from oil to water and did not change stones. I just cleaned the stone (carborundum) using warm soapy water and a stiff brush and rinsed it thoroughly when done. Then started using water. Whether oil or water, the purpose of the liquid is to float, or wash away, the “slurry” which is the small metal particles removed from the blade during the sharpening process. Without any liquid those metal particles clog the pores in the stone, after which it doesn’t sharpen well.

As Mel mentioned, there are several good posts here with tips about sharpening. But the best way to learn is from an experienced “old-timer”. In Germany you may have a hard time finding any chewing tobacco and wearing bib overalls, but I guarantee there are some guys that know how to sharpen a knife using a stone! I met one myself several years ago in a small town “im Schwartzwald” (the Black Forest). We were staying at the rural “Gasthoff Tallblick” owned by him and his wife. We had a great time sharpening our knives (and drinking bier).

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 5:43 pm

TPK wrote: ↑Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:39 pm If you used water on a new stone over a longer timeframe, and then you decided you would like to try it with oil, could you just change & start useing oil on it?

I'd guess from oil to water would not work because the oil would be in the stone but from water to oil should work because the water dries out of the stone.

I probably don’t know any better, but I switched from oil to water and did not change stones. I just cleaned the stone (carborundum) using warm soapy water and a stiff brush and rinsed it thoroughly when done. Then started using water. Whether oil or water, the purpose of the liquid is to float, or wash away, the “slurry” which is the small metal particles removed from the blade during the sharpening process. Without any liquid those metal particles clog the pores in the stone, after which it doesn’t sharpen well.

As Mel mentioned, there are several good posts here with tips about sharpening. But the best way to learn is from an experienced “old-timer”. In Germany you may have a hard time finding any chewing tobacco and wearing bib overalls, but I guarantee there are some guys that know how to sharpen a knife using a stone! I met one myself several years ago in a small town “im Schwartzwald” (the Black Forest). We were staying at the rural “Gasthoff Tallblick” owned by him and his wife. We had a great time sharpening our knives (and drinking bier).

Ken

Dinadan wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 10:32 pm We are getting off topic here ... but I just happen to know that beer works just as good as water on a sharpening stone. So if a man were to be sitting on his back porch drinking a beer and decided to sharpen up his knife ... no need to go get some water or oil. I do keep a couple of Band-Aids in my wallet!

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 05, 2020 2:41 am

Dinadan wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 10:32 pm We are getting off topic here ... but I just happen to know that beer works just as good as water on a sharpening stone. So if a man were to be sitting on his back porch drinking a beer and decided to sharpen up his knife ... no need to go get some water or oil. I do keep a couple of Band-Aids in my wallet!

I might use light beer for sharpening - it’s sure not any good for drinking!

Ken