Re Finishing an Oilstone - make your tools razor sharp!

I bought an old oilstone which had a fairly large amount of wear on the top side. The centre of the stone was worn down and it dipped in quite a lot. this video shows the process of how to re dress the stone so it is perfectly flat so that you can sharpen your flat edge tools such as chisels etc perfectly.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I know its 5 years since your video, I have used a similar method but using 'Elbow Grease' de-greaser sprayed on the paper as a lapping lubricant. This deals with any old oil and crud as it arises in the lapping progress. Even better soak it in de-greaser for a day or two before you start lapping to soften up the ground in dirt. Lapping with silicon carbide grits on a granite plate is much faster. btw. If you want some flat granite plates for lapping try your local ornamental stonemason [memorial/gravestone maker], To them, any offcuts or slightly damaged stones are useless scrap and I have had several great ones for free.... always worth a try. My best score to-date was a 3' x 2'6" x 3" rose granite plate that is flat to within a thou with an incorrect inscription on the bottom side - an expensive error on his part .. but a very useful tool in the workshop ! ...... Hope this helps someone ;

[@Vandal_Savage]

I think I like your idea of cleaning the old oil off with petrol - am definitely going to be giving that a go, thanks!

[@rossMIE]

Vandal Savage me en all

[@frankartieta4887]

All my stones have a twin ! I like stones in pairs ! Just rub them together every now and then Like a inca pyramid builder ! Those people knew how to flatten great big stones a that was a ways down the road ! The way you are doing it fine too ! Also if my stone seems clogged up A soak in gasoline or some other light and cheap solvent works for me ! cheerio

[@Bert2368]

Use a pan of boiling water and one of the cleaner concentrates intended for pressure washer cleaning the oil/grease off of driveways and garsge floors. Water soluble. Can be used indoors (a bit more safely than hydrocarbon fuels). Doesn't set you on fire if you forget what you're doing and light up a cigarette, flip a sparking light switch or whatever. I have wasted a LOT of silicon carbide paper and TIME trying to flatten a hard translucent Arkansas stone like this. They don't make paper with large enough grit to cut fast, then each successive piece of paper you use is worn down to near uselessness in minutes. Instead, flatten on a large fully vitrified porcelain floor tile (I use a 12"×12"), with a bit of water and a scattering of loose silicon carbide powder such as coarse valve grinding compound. You can use glass, but it will be destroyed very quickly, leftover floor tiles are cheaper and last longer. CHECK THE TILE FOR FLATNESS, they are often slightly cupped.. CHANGE TO NEW COMPOUND FREQUENTLY as it will be broken down in size quite quickly and slow down your progress. As soon as it stops sounding awful and vibrating like you're running on large, faulty ball bearings and the feel "smooths out", rinse off the old broken down grit and apply new abrasive. Of course, you could go find a lapidary hobbyist with a water cooled diamond wheel. But what fun would that be?

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Or find an engineer with a lapping plate. Or just go buy a new stone!

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I remember watching my grandfather about 60 years ago, reconditioning his stones. Soak in petrol for a few days then set fire to them to burn off petrol and dissolved oil, before lapping on an old mirror glass with some sort of sand. His stones were very old and large[well over 12 x3 "], and probably worth a small fortune today. He came from a long line of cabinet makers and his tools were always very sharp. I don't recommend this method to anyone ....... there are easier and no doubt safer ways, for both man and stone ;

[@CandidZulu]

Back side of an paving slab and some coarse SIC with a bit of oil, very effective.

[@james1795]

It's good to see you again. Merry Christmas, from the States.

[@EricTViking]

I just used 60 grit silicon carbide powder with a little water on a piece of glass from an old picture frame. Cut the stone down really fast - just a few minutes.

[@andymsmith]

Silicone carbide powder works fast and great.

[@simonvolsmann]

It is much easier getting it flat using loose silicon carbide powder on a glass plate, only takes a few minutes, and you dont have to get the stone free of Oil first Simon

[@aktrapper6126]

By far the easiest I've found by far. I do like to boil the stone first if it is something I just picked up used. But your right it is not necessary.

[@dreadcat7756]

Good video. I have done the same thing with the glass pane. Makes the oil stone like new.

[@asafoetidajones8181]

I Just flatten my stones against each other and brakleen as I go, maybe a little scrub with a wire brush here and there.

[@dirkventer8112]

Hi got a old stone don't know if it water or oil stone how do I know what to use oil /water?

[@deemdoubleu]

Don't forget to hang your wife's kitchen cupboard door back on before she gets home from shopping.

[@stumetallicafan]

Thought I recognised the voice Mr Neil Birkin . Love your darts reviews too.

[@joeennis2571]

thank you straight talk no waffle

[@daddywoofdawg]

If you don't like using gas to clean a oily stone you can use Dawn dishsoap it removes oil.

[@redangrybird7564]

He is probably allergic to water, that's why he uses oil stones.

[@hardworker8030]

Would you soak the oilstone in petrol.

[@kingcobrauk]

Could have put it on your belt sander to get it flat then finish as you did would have taken no time

[@SWhite-hp5xq]

That straight edge won’t be a straight edge for very long.

[@pedtrog6443]

could have used kero instead of water and that would have mobilized the particles better and not clogged the stone

[@mohamedhamza3838]

I bought a stone with aluminum oxide written on it, what do I use water or oil with it !?

[@shootingatdawn]

I would use oil.

[@477771]

what kind of oil I can use? thanks.

[@jessejames4774]

Mineral oil is best

[@wdtaut5650]

@@jessejames4774 I second that.

[@latestplague3762]

Lamp oil will work just as good as gas or kerosene minus the smell.

[@bobbubendorfer3868]

Hi Bryan

[@redangrybird7564]

Why use oil stones in the first place??

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Why not?

[@redangrybird7564]

@@gbwildlifeuk8269 Oil was used for hundreds of years on natural whetstones that are very dense and do not absorb oil, then came the use of synthetic (man made) whetstones that are very absorbent, but people kept oiling them with the consequence that oil was trapped and hardened inside the stone preventing the proper use of the abrasives. Think of a whetstone soaked in glue and let it dry, the stone will never perform the same again. That is the reason synthetic stones are used in water, not oil anymore, since water evaporates easily but oil doesn't.

[@ureasmith3049]

That looks like a man made India stone.