Sharpening stone question

[Chris in Comox]

This is my first post on this forum, as I just found it tonight. I see some familiar names though.
At a recent auction I picked up a large sharpening stone. I initially thought it was a water stone, but may be wrong. The box says it is a Chinese whet stone. I have a set of old Arkansas stones, also labelled as whet, and they are oil stones. I also have a set of Japanese water stones from Lee Valley. Have I purchased an oil or water stone, or is there a way to tell the difference?
Thanks,
Chris.

[Bob Hamilton in Forest, O]

Hi, Chris:
Don't know how to tell if it is water or oil, but the word "whet" is pretty much a synonym for "hone", so is simply referring to the purpose of the stone, not the type.

Good Luck!
Bob

[Darrell & Kathy (]

Chris,

Put a few drops of water on the stone. If they soak in it's a waterstone. If they bead up and sit there it's likely been used with oil and will have to remain that way.

Darrell

[J.P.Rap (Hamilton)]

Does anyone here know the differance?
I mean why cant you use water on an oil stone or vise versa?
I think what I'm trying to ask is, what is so special about an oil stone that you must use oil on it? Same question for water.
I have a couple of two sided stones(two differant grits) but I haven't used them with oil or water (dry) because I don't know wich they are.
Anyone care to take a stab at it.
J.P.

[Rod in Smiths Falls]

My grandfather used to spit tobacco juice on the stone for his chopping axe and skinning knife. Made a real mess of it, though.

[Darrell & Kathy (]

The newer man-made stones are designed to use water to flush away the swarf (metal filings) and grit. These stones abrade fairly quickly and if there isn't lots of lubricant they'll clog up and you won't make anything sharp. Older stones or natural stones are good with either oil or water as a lubricant. But once you use oil on a stone water won't work very well because the oil has gotten into the interstices. The water will be repelled from the surface, and the stone will clog. Thus the test to see if an old stone is 'water' or 'oil'.

Hope this helps,
Darrell

Um, did I answer the question, or did I just blather away and get everyone even more confused?

[J.P.Rap (Hamilton)]

So your saying the older stone can be used with either, but once used with oil you have to stick with oil. Right?
Does that mean there really isn't a differance in the older stones?
J.P.

[Roman]

JP if your stone is old enough you might have a real precious gem. If you are really lucky than maybe it is an Arkansas or if your really really lucky it might be a Washita stone.

If it has a distict line through the center it is likely a man made stone and likely an oil stone. One face os for fine honing and the other side is a coarse stone. Both made for oil. equall parts of oil and kerosene work well.

A wet stone doesnt usaully have a line down the center and is considerably softer. You can usaully carve a wet stone with a finger nail.I wouldnt use oil on a wet stone.

Regards Roman

[J.P.Rap (Hamilton)]

The stone has two distinct sides ,one is white the other is brownish pink.
Both sides are very fine.
And it's HARD.
J.P.

[Roman]

Howdy JP your stone is likely an oil stone, man made and if used correctly can produce a razor edge if its still flat.

Maybe they now make a two sided wet stone but to date I havent seen one.

Roman

[Steve in Victoria]

Two sided water stones are generally available. They are referred to as combination stones and LV has them

[Chris in Comox]

OK, so if I am understanding this correctly, if this stone has never been used, it won't matter whether I use water or oil on it. If it has, then I need to use the same medium that was used before?
Thanks for the input

Cheers
Chris