Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Arkansas Stone - Grit? Lubricant?
Garrett in Victoria
>I just "re-doscivered" a 2x6x1/2" Arkansas stone that I purchased more than 40 years ago, still in almost pristine condition.
Would anyone know the approximate grit equivalent?
And what to use as a lubricant?
TIA, Garrett
Re: Arkansas Stone - Grit? Lubricant?
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(
>From a recommendation from here or Badger Pond I've been using Baby Oil with no problems, and it smells nicer than kerosene.
Some where on the 'net, I don't remember where, there is a grit equivelent chart, but I think it's really not all that important and you end up comparing apples to oranges anyhow.
Todd O.
Re: Arkansas Stone - Grit? Lubricant? *LINK*
Ed Mulligan, Cape Cod
>Garrett -
There are several grades of Arkansas stones. The link describes the equivalent grit sizes.
Re: Arkansas Stone - Grit? Lubricant?
William Duffield, on the Cohansey
>I use the same general purpose petroleum lubricant I use for most other purposes in the shop, SAE 20 ND motor oil. Exceptionally: I DON'T use it on wood (salad bowls, frog polish, furniture, etc.).
Re: Arkansas Stone - Grit? Lubricant?
R.J.Whelan
>Garrett ... I've always used kerosene ... rj
Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, or Turps
Bob Smalser, Seabeck, WA
>The only way to find out the grit is to sharpen with it along side your known stones.
Color has nothing to do with it....I have dark grey stones finer than my white stone....and it fooled me for years because I bought it as a "coarse" stone.
Re: Lubricant Clarifications
William Duffield, on the Cohansey
>As you can see, many others recommend a lubricant that is a lot more volatile than the 20 weight oil I use. I like the heavier lubricant because I can return to the stone many times over a long turning or carving session, and the oil is still on the stone, not evaporated into my shop's atmosphere. However, I keep two small pump oil cans at my sharpening station. The other holds mineral spirits. It is very useful for cleaning the stones at the end of a session, removing swarf, oil and wood chips and shavings. Sometimes, I use it instead of the oil, or add some to the oil, depending on my mood.
How do you hold the frog still to polish it?
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
>Oh, you mean the frog on a PLANE. What planes have wooden frogs?
Re: Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, or Turps
Patrick Gibbons, Speaker of Texan
>Arkansas stones being natural aren't consistent. I have a Norton fine translucent that has a small corner area that seems to have more tooth than the rest of the stone. I have grown to like this and use it when a little extra umph is needed on my honing. I like using Norton's brand of oil. I think it's mineral oil because I believe it is food safe IIRC.
Re: How do you hold the frog still to polish it?
William Duffield, on the Cohansey
>The beauty of a frog is that it doesn't need to be polished. The green and shiny comes naturally. Also, you don't need to hold it still. You should apply it while the frog is spinning on the lathe. "Frog polish" is just the Lox's trademark for our secret all natural, edible, cheap and quick tool handle polishing methodology.
I think Lox's motto was "Lick a toad" but he was never very coherant when discussing philosophy.