Oil for Soaking an Oilstone

[OPJ]

Hi.

I understand that upon purchasing a new oilstone it is advisible to soak it first for 48 hours before using it. So, could some please give me an example of a suitable oil for this purpose?

My usual choice of honing oil is good old WD40, although I recently purchased a small amount of Norton Honing Oil (from Rutlands) for use on other oil stones for sharpening my carving chisels - incidentally, could someone also offer a solution as to how I can securely hold these tapered stones? I made a small oak box for my standard one.

You're help will be greatly appreciated, as always.

I just purchased the oilstone, for a mere £1.99, on the Charnwood website along with some extraction bits and pieces. And I'm amazed at how flat it is out of the box, compared to other cheap stones I've bought previously (Screwfix, eBay) where I've payed a few times more!

Thanks for your help.

 

[Bean]

Hi OPJ

I would think that any light machine oil would do the job, I would aviod engine oil due to the additives.
For containers I use plastic lunch/storage boxes from wilkos I keep all my water stones in them far far cheaper than stone ponds 8) My oil stones live as they have for the last 25 years rolled up in an oil soaked rag, which I use to clean the tool after sharpening.

 

[OPJ]

Thanks, but I don't suppose you could point me in the right direction of an actual product, could you?

I've tried searching Google but I can only come up with those small cans of 3-in-1 oil and the like. I don't there's enough there to soak an entire stone, plus it would take an eternity to empty the can through the nozzle.

 

[dennyk]

I have always used 3 in 1 oil, the stuff you use on sewing machines

 

[Pekka Huhta]

I use a mixture of 1/3-1/2 of motor oil (mineral, not synthetic) and the rest of it lamp oil, a classic mixture around here. Cheap and easy and you can adjust the viscosity as you like. I have started with half-and-half-mix, these days I have added more and more lamp oil. Cuts better that way without yet clogging the stone.

Pekka