Question about honing oil?

[Lunar-Tic]

I have recently ran out of honing oil and was wondering if I could use 3&1 oil in it's place. Does anyone know what the major difference might be and could it possibly damage my sharpening stones?

[robtattoo]

3-in-1 is waaay to thick. If you've been using honing oil, keep using it. Have a look on KME's website. Ron will sell you some more there.
If you switch to a thicker oil, you'll end up gumming up your stones.

[LAR43]

Kerosene or Diesel fuel . . maybe with a couple drops of 3&1. I'd go with Kerosene myself.

As Rob said above, the oil is more to keep the stone clean  than it is to lubricate anything.

Larry

[lpcjon2]

I use vegetable oil on my stones and never had a problem

[Bladepeek]

Kerosene works fine, but stinks up the whole area. Pick up a bottle of lamp oil at your local big box store. That's what I use for my knife sharpening. Works as good as kerosene, doesn't let the pores of the stone fill up and smells as good as a pretty girl.
Ron

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Olive Oil

[Fletcher]

wd-40

[Bowsin]

I read a note from a company that sharpens knives for meat processing plants and they say that you get a sharper edge when you dont use oil . They clean the stones between use with hot water and soap .

[No-sage]

Larry is right.  Oil is only needed to "float" the metal particles so they don't get into the pores of your stone. It's not for lubrication.

[Sharpster]

You can use just about ant lightweight oil- Gun oil, 3in1, even vegetable oil. My personal favorites are CRC Screwloose or Liquid Wrench. These are both water-thin and make excellent honing oils. One note- do Not use WD-40. It's great for guns because it drys like varnish creating a barrier between the steel and any water/moisture. When used on a sharpening stone however, after the WD drys and hardens it locks the metal filings into the pores of the stone, making cleaning them a nightmare!

Ron

[Lamey]

WD 40 works the best for me, it dont load up your stone as most honing oil, veg., 3-1 etc. will do .

[Orion]

   

[Mike Vines]

I use mineral oil on my stone, and it does a wondeful job.  Any type of cooking oil has the ability to go rancid on you, and therefor I would not use it.  I use mineral oil for all the cutting boards I make also.  I usually make close to a dozen a year as gifts.

[MR BILL SHORTY]

MINERAL SPIRITS YOU CAN GET THE ODORLESS BUT IT STILL HAS A SMELL

[Butch Speer]

I'm with Grapes. Been using plain old mineral oil for a long time. Works great. Doesn't cog your stone & it's cheap. Non toxic too. 3&1 & motor oil are made to protect metal. Kind of defeats the purpose when using it to remove metal.

dawn liquid dish soap works great, and cleans your stone too.

[B/W lvr]

I sharpen dry and wash the stones when they get too dirty. If I was looking for an oil I would use Marvel Mystery oil or auto transmission fluid. Frank

[Lunar-Tic]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'll try a few different ways and see what works best.

[Jeremy]

The food-safe honing oils are all a highly refined light mineral oil.

[Fletcher]

Well, Ron, you've likely forgotten more about sharpening than I know, so I'll back off on the WD-40.  I've always wiped it off when done so maybe that is why I never had it set up on the stone.

Even brake fluid works well, but it will eat the paint off your Zwickeys.   :eek: