Oilstones
Oilstones
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OILSTONES
Oilstones are one of the classic abrasives that have been in use for centuries. They usually consist of natural or synthetic abrasive materials bonded in a solid matrix and are traditionally used with oil. Certain natural stones such as the Arkansas are also known as Oilstones. The oil acts as a lubricant and helps to remove metal particles created during grinding, while keeping the stone clean and allowing for even removal. Oilstones, in combination with oil, form a lubricating film that allows the stone to grip.
Oilstones are generally harder than waterstones, which is why their surface does not wear down as quickly during sharpening. They remain flat for longer and tools that have a very small contact surface on the stone leave fewer grooves or scratch marks in the stone surface.
Oilstones are therefore very popular with sculptors, whose carving tools often have very strongly rounded cutting edges. Due to the greater stability of the stones, they can be used to produce filigree Slipstones shaped stones (no. 705267), which are necessary for sculpting tools for honing the inner sides.
Use of Oilstones
To use an Oilstones, apply a small quantity of grinding oil to the surface of the stone. This prevents the metal particles from clogging the grinding stones and ensures a smooth, even sharpening process. The sharpening process is carried out using smooth, controlled movements in which the blade is guided over the stone at a constant angle. The slow, controlled removal and fine sharpness offered by an Oilstones make it the preferred choice for fine cutting edges and controlled sharpening.
Care of Oilstones
Proper care is crucial for an Oilstones to remain effective in the long term:
- Regular cleaning: After each use, the stone should be wiped down with a lint-free scarves and a little oil to remove any grinding residue. From time to time, it is best to use petroleum or turpentine substitute to thoroughly clean off old oil residue to restore the stone's grip.
- Dressing: Over time, grooves and indentations can form in the stone during sharpening. These should be removed regularly with a whetstone or Abrasive paper sandpaper. Hollow ground Oilstones are dressed in the same way as waterstones. However, you should use one of the above-mentioned solvents for dressing.
- Storage: The stones should be stored in a dry and clean place, ideally in a case or box to keep out dust and dirt.
Advantages of Oilstones
- Durability: Compared to other grinding stones, oilstones wear more slowly and offer consistently high grinding performance.
- Resistance: They are ideal for hardness and offer a long service life.
- Garde during the sharpening process: Tool cutting edges cannot corrode and do not need to be maintained again after the sharpening process.
Professionals who value long-lasting sharpness and a robust grinding solution achieve particularly good results with Oilstones. Oilstones are the preferred choice, especially for tools that require high precision, such as chisels, sculpting tools or plane irons, but also for high-quality knives.
However, the oilstones work more slowly due to their high hardness. With the comparatively softer waterstones, used, blunt abrasive particles break out of the surface more quickly and make room for fresh, sharp particles.
Porous Oilstones are usually pre-impregnated with oil, e.g. the Norton Combi Sharpening Stone (No. 711053) and only require a few drops of grinding oil (No. 705263) on the surface of the stone for sharpening. Stones with closed pores do not absorb much oil; here too, a few drops of grinding oil on the surface are sufficient.
There are very fine-grained specimens of Arkansas Oilstones that can be used to polish the cutting edge very well. They are very popular as polishing stones with a Grit of 8000-10 000. If such an oilstone is used for honing the cutting edge, it makes sense to also use Oilstones for the preparatory work. However, the coarser variants of Arkansas stones are very soft, which is why synthetically produced stones have become established for this purpose. One manufacturer of such artificial oilstones is Norton. The Norton stones are relatively coarse and the gap between the Grit and the Arkansas whetstones is quite large. Kunsuto Oilstones with medium Grits close this gap. One advantage is that all these Oilstones have a similar size of approx. 200 mm x 50 mm: they are all suitable for our sharpening stone holder.
Arkansas Oilstones are very fine-grained, extremely wear-resistant stones. Due to their high hardness, these oilstones are preferably used for polishing curved cutting edges. The stones offered have a homogeneous structure and are crack-free. They come from the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas (USA).
Which oils can I use?
There are various oils that can be used on an oilstone:
Special grinding oils: These are ideal as they have been specially developed for sharpening. They are relatively low-viscosity and enable even sharpening.
A light mineral oil is also suitable as it is clear, odourless and easy to spread.
The mineral oil-based composition of Ballistol ensures that it can be used well on Sharpening stones without sticking or becoming rancid. Sewing machine oil or gun oil are light and easy to spread, but are not necessarily odourless.
What should be avoided?
- Avoid vegetable oils such as olive oil or sunflower oil. These tend to go rancid, which can make the stone sticky and smell unpleasant.
Sharpening on oilstones definitely has a certain appeal for enthusiasts who appreciate traditional methods. However, it is not just a question of nostalgia. Many craftsmen, chefs and knife enthusiasts still turn to Oilstones because they offer precise control over the sharpening process and are durable. Oilstones enable fine, controlled processing of the cutting edge, which is particularly appreciated with high-quality tools or knives.
