Question on lapping fluid for diamond stones......

Re: Question on lapping fluid for diamond stones..

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Roger, I just use a spritz of soapy water, as used on my waterstones. I rinse under a tap (faucet). I have never had an issue with rust. The "fluid" is simply to carry away the swarf. No magic in the fluid, per se.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Question on lapping fluid for diamond stones..

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I use diluted water based cutting fluid. I got a free gallon from a machine shop. The soap and water would likely be equivalent.

Re: Question on lapping fluid for diamond stones..

AlanWS

Some use the stones dry, and remove any clogging periodically with a rubber eraser. See the Stavros Gakos YouTube channel.

I use either soapy water, or WD-40, whichever is more convenient at the time.

Re: Question on lapping fluid for diamond stones..

Joe Fleming

Rafael - Its blue!!

from EXpLap tech service

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Question: Should I use oil or water on the stone when sharpening?

Answer: Either is fine and neither will hurt the stone. However, oil will tend to clog the stone and it will need to be cleaned more often than when using water.

Cheap honing fluid

Bryan in Broad Ripple, IN

Farm stores are another source of cheap mineral oil, if you have them in your area. We have Tractor Supply in central Indiana. You can get a gallon of light grade mineral oil for $20 or so. It's sold as livestock laxative, FWIW.

It's quite a bit lower in viscosity than the mineral oil you'll find at a pharmacy. I don't like the pharmacy stuff as it's too thick for my needs. Depending on the stones, I'll thin it further with mineral spirits until it's 50/50 mineral oil/mineral spriits.

I can't speak for the food grade mineral oil as I've never used it.

Good Luck!

-Bryan

not as cheap as the recommended water

True, but he asked about mineral oil 

Yup...

Bryan in Broad Ripple, IN

lots of people recommend both diesel and kerosene, and I can't deny that they are way cheaper than $20 a gallon. Personally, I just can't really tolerate the smell of either.

For some reason, I kinda like the smell of mineral spirits. So that, combined with the mineral oil, is my preferred honing fluid.

-Bryan

Only because he did not realise there were options

Re: Only because he did not realise there were opt

Kevin K

Simple Green seems to work ok,no rust issues so far

I realized the Great American flimflam was on.....

roger lance

I knew that water was never going to be recommended as a lapping fluid by any manufacturer of diamond plates as no manufacturer would ever want to warrant their diamond plate from rusting.

I also realized that if I were able to sell people a lapping fluid at a rate of over $400/gallon, I would want to keep that going as long as possible and I'd want to be as mysterious about what I was selling as I could be.

I also realized that mineral oil.....be it thinned and diluted was occasionally mentioned as a suitable lapping fluid but was never going to be just presented as the recommended lapping fluid by manufacturers because they can't control that market and they can't continue to make it a mystery with coloring and endorsements.

So, I thought I'd see what other people were thinking.

Re: I realized the Great American flimflam was on.

Warren in Lancaster, PA

I am having trouble thinking that a manufacturer representative has much experience sharpening, or could give good practical advice if he wanted to.

not true

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

EzLap recommends water and their plates don't rust.....or mine have not in 10+ years.

Tech service is valuable to me

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Over the years I have seen that many here do not consider tech service the place to go for product information. In my life tech service is the first place to go when I have a question on how to use a product, or to specify a product for an application.

Sadly, tech service has become unavailable to the consumer at many large companies. I used to be able call 3M and access the wealth of information this company has on abrading or gluing everything, where a 3M product was made for the market. Titebond still has tech service where one can ask. For example, want to know how warm your shop has to be to use Titebond? The company has studied this topic and has the answer. Glue cure time for 12% moisture content lumber? Make the same call. Best way to join the leg to a 3'legged pedestal table? Not the kind of question to ask tech service.

When I was reconsidering how to build bridges this summer I called Spax tech service to ask what fasters to use. After quizzing my needs I was provided with a product that met the structural and corrosion needs. When I wondered what lumber treatment to use I called Lanza, the company that makes the chemicals. After a quiz about the environment the "4B" specification was recommended. Where else would one go to get the best information?

Re: not true

Charlie

Don't you know Bill -- no tool is ever useable, no manufacturer's instructions ever adequate -- potions and concoctions have to be formulated, tools made with 'outdated' steel replaced, three dozen chisel handles replaced with something that 'fits better,' rake and fleam angles changed on saws, saw teeth ground down and new teeth cut in to change the PPI by one point, and on and on and on. Same people who couldn't quit picking a scab when they were kids.