Waterstone or oilstone?

[Matt_S]

Not which is best which have I got!

I have a stone which is redish colour one side and then grey the other, is this an oilstone or waterstone or could it be either?

Would you believe it I'm young and inexperienced :shock:

 

[Waka]

Matt

A piccy might be of use here.

 

[ike]

It definitely could be a waterstone - maybe one of these?

 

[bugbear]

Not which is best which have I got!

I have a stone which is redish colour one side and then grey the other, is this an oilstone or waterstone or could it be either?

Would you believe it I'm young and inexperienced :shock:

Sounds like the classic medium/fine(*) double sided INDIA oilstone, most famously by Norton.

If you clean it down (white spirits or meths) it may be labelled on the edge.

(*) These are the names used by Norton; to convert to other notions of fineness or coarseness use this:

http://users.ameritech.net/knives/grits.htm

Your stone is an excellent one for general purpose sharpening (e.g. jobs around the house, carpentry). For joinery or cabinent making some tasks require a finer edge that "fine" india will give you. When sharpening with oil stones I normally use India fine to generate a burr, and then follow with a finer natural stone.

BugBear

 

[Alf]

Not which is best which have I got!

I have a stone which is redish colour one side and then grey the other, is this an oilstone or waterstone or could it be either?

Would you believe it I'm young and inexperienced :shock:

Sounds like the classic medium/fine(*) double sided INDIA oilstone, most famously by Norton.

Could well be - f'rinstance. But then again, might not - f'rinstance. Kinda depends on what colour grey. But the balance of probabilty is it'll be an oilstone.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Matt_S]

I'll take a pic tonight and try posting it

 

[Nick W]

Until you know what it is DO NOT rinse it down with white spirit or meths. (Sorry BugBear)

 

[bugbear]

Until you know what it is DO NOT rinse it down with white spirit or meths. (Sorry BugBear)

Sorry - you're right., but I was confident on the oil stone identification, and was moving on to identify (maybe...) the brand.

It should be easy to tell oilstone from waterstone.

Sprinkle few drops of water on it.

If it sits/skates/run, there's oil on the stone, and you'd better hope it's an oil stone! This small amount of water won't cause any harm.

Otherwise it's a waterstone, and you've put water on it, which shouldn't be a problem.

BugBear

 

[engineer one]

being of little knowledge, i would suggest that it is an india oilstone from norton, i have one, and it really depends upon the colours you are describing.
in my view, water stones tend to look more like a pottery colour,
you know med type cooking pots, whilst the norton is more red.

paul :wink:

 

[Matt_S]

I failed on the picture front had a busy evening getting stuff finished so I could get the Morris back in the garage as it's decided to start leaking

But with engineer one's comments on colour and looking at the earlier links I reckon its an oilstone Texture looked right on the oilstone

thanks guys

what oil would you recommend using, I see you can get special honing oil is it worth it?

 

[bugbear]

I failed on the picture front had a busy evening getting stuff finished so I could get the Morris back in the garage as it's decided to start leaking

But with engineer one's comments on colour and looking at the earlier links I reckon its an oilstone Texture looked right on the oilstone

I would try the water splash test to confirm; cheap and easy

what oil would you recommend using, I see you can get special honing oil is it worth it?

Jim Kingshott (guru author) recommends simple using engine oil, diluted to the viscosity of your choice with parafin or white spirit.

3-in-1 works pretty well, but is expensive.

BugBear

 

[George_N]

I think Bugbear has nailed it with the water test...it won't harm either type of stone. What it won't do is tell you what grade the stone is. You will have to determine that by experimentation.

 

[David C]

Try sanding a small bevel on an end or edge with 240 grit W&D or Al ox paper.

Waterstones are very soft and will sand easily,
Oilstones are much harder, and should eat the paper!

David