Proper oil to use for oilstones?

[Kevin in Keswick]

Hey guys,

Quick question. I am about to do some initial shaping of some older plane irons and am going to be using a carborundum medium/coarse oilstone. What is the proper oil to use with this? I am thinking about trying mineral oil because I think I read that was the best oil to use somewhere before. Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks a bunch.

[Brent in Montreal]

Hi Kevin,

You can use mineral oil, but you should mix about one part kerosene to two parts MO. Kerosene will help it cut quicker. Too much kerosene and the stone will clog too fast. It's just a lot easier to use a commercial product like Norton's sharpening oil.

BTW, if you got a 220, or even a 1000 grit waterstone with your guide they'll do the job as fast or faster than the oil stone (and much cleaner).

[Kevin in Keswick]

Brent,

thanks for your reply. My next stone purchase will be a 220 norton waterstone from LV but until then this what I have to use. From your wording it sounds like you are saying that the 1000 will shape as fast as the 220. This can't be possible can it? Thanks in advance.

Kevin

[Brent in Montreal]

Hi Kevin,

No, I meant that the 1000 would shape just about as fast or faster than your oil stone. A 220 waterstone will do the job a lot quicker. The one drawback to a waterstone that coarse is that it needs to be flattened often during use. Even with the flattening time involved, you'll still get your blades done much quicker on the 220 than on the oil stone. The added bonus is that you can progress from there on up to an 8000 without having to get set up again with the waterstones. Carborundum stones are just not fine enough to get a final cutting edge on a blade, so no matter you'll need to go to your waterstones after anyway.

[Jim in Burlington]

I just use unsented baby oil you can pick it up at the drug store. Any of the oil stones that I have bought or picked up aren't all that flat and needed a little bit of work.