Article written by Annabelle from Seriously Smoked
How to Clean a Sharpening Stone
Is your sharpening stone always getting clogged and not working optimally? Then chances are you are not cleaning it regularly or not cleaning it with the right methods.
For instance, you need honing oil to get rid of any metal fillings on the stone. If your stone is already aging, you can bring it back to optimal functioning by using WD-40 and steel wool to get rid of dirt and oil. It is important you flatten your stone not less than every 10 sharpening sessions, which in turn will help keep it even and get rid of embedded, stubborn metal fillings.
Here are the rest of the top tips to clean your sharpening stone;
#1: Tips for Getting Rid of Dirt and Grime
This section will detail tips on how to clean a sharpening stone by removing dirt and grime.
- Use WD-40 to Coat Your Stone: The specially formulated oil spray known as WD-40 is great for cleaning sharpening stone, as well as serve different purposes. Spray the oil on the surface of the stone and ensure you coat the entire surface with the oil. It is best to use this oily spray in an area that is superbly ventilated.
- Gently Scour the Surface: Next, use a piece of fine steel wool to scour the surface in a gentle manner. This process will take out any grime on your sharpening tool. But, if you have to break up stubborn debris or caked oil, you should use steel wool or any form of abrasive tool.
So, apply steel wool (the 0000 grade type) onto the surface of the stone. Don’t stop rubbing until debris and oil starts to come off. This technique will work best for older stones that have been lying dormant for a while.
- Use a Damp Cloth to Wipe: A paper cloth will also work well in wiping the stone’s surface. When you’re done scouring your stone, take off the leftover WD-40, oil, and dirt. Use the damp cloth or paper towel to wipe down your stone in a thorough manner. Do this all over if you are not satisfied with the first effort.
#2: Tips to Flush Out Mineral Fillings
In this section, you will learn super-helpful ways to flush out mineral fillings from your stone. These tips include the following;
- Use Honing Oil: A quarter amount of this oil will do. This oil is mineral-grade oil used commonly in machine shops, and the essence is to lift metal flecks away from stone.
Use a soft tooth brush or your finger when applying this oil on your stone, adopting gentle, circular motions as you rub. Don’t stop the motion until you can observe metal flecks emerging from your sharpening stone’s pores.
Also, you should apply honing oil on your stone once you notice metal flecks, so that your stone can remain effective.
- Use a Damp Cloth to Wipe: Use a paper towel or damp cloth to wipe the metal flecks away. When you wet the paper towel or clean cloth, ensure you wring the water out before using it to wipe the surface of your stone gently. Make sure you wipe off even the slightest metal fillings that settled on the surface.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Put the stone under running water to rinse it. This way, you can get rid of any leftover debris or metal fillings on the stone. Rinse for about a minute or two to be sure it is thoroughly clean. Use a paper towel or clean dry cloth to finish cleaning. Caution: Use only water (no soap or other form of liquid) for this process.
#3: Tips for Flattening the Stone
The tips to be covered under this section include;
- Use a Flattening Plate: Rub your stone over the flattening plate, so that you can get rid of metal fillings. The flattening plate works to even out the stone’s surface and some stones will come with this plate.
So, start by using oil or water to damp your stone completely. Then, drag the plate back and forth in a gentle manner, over the stone’s surface. Keep on with this motion until the surface comes out smooth with no form of metal fillings.
For synthetic sharpening stone, you will need honing oil to wet the surface instead of water. This is because this type of stone is coarser and grittier compared to the natural stones.
- Apply Sanding Method: Sandpaper can also work if there’s no flattening plate. So, adhere a wet-dry sand paper (100-grit) onto a flat surface such as a thick, small piece of glass. Use water or oil to damp your sharpening stone and start rubbing the stone over the sandpaper. Keep up the process until the surface is smooth and metal filings are not visible.
These basic but proven tips for cleaning a sharpening stone are super-effective.
SHOP
Need a Good Sharpening Stone or need to replace your old one? Get our Wet Stone here Wet Stone Sharpening Stone 1000/6000 grit today. On Sale for Just $19.99 Plus Free Shipping to 48 US States.
For those quick moments when you have to line the burrs or get a edge on your knife for prepping your meal and you forgot to sharpen your dull knife or knives the longer way, Ergo Chef offers diamond rods and a few quick pull through sharpeners that can get a edge on your knife in no time.
If your knives are past the point of you being able to sharpen them you can send them in for a professional re-grinding of the edge to Ergo Chef with our pro knife sharpening services. Click here for details.
Interesting post. I had no idea how to clean my sharpening stones. Thanks for this.
Glad you liked the post Tanto. Keep Cookin!
What do i do if my buddy ised vegetable oil on my natural sharpening stone?
I would simply spray with wd40 to clean it.
Thanks for the great blog. An easy and effective way of cleaning sharpening stones. Would have never thought of cleaning them your way.
Glad you found it helpful!
Thanks for this trick it works well for my heavy caked stone it works and looks like new
NICE! Great to rejuvenate an old stone. Keep Cookin’
Thanks for the post, it’s simple and informative.
I just wanted to check, the wd40/oil to cleanse is okay to use on a water based whetstone?
In our research we found you can use WD40 to clean all sharpening stones, but you should check with the manufacturer just to be safe. Thanks for reading our article. Keep Cooking!
I just barely got a 3000/10000 sharpening stone (agate and corundum, respectively) and I was an Eagle Scout a long time ago and I have forgotten more than I care to admit. 🙂 Anyway, I thought I was supposed to ‘season’ the stone before use but I couldn’t remember how or with what. Oil sounds familiar and that is what I was originally looking for when I happily found your site. I have heard from many friends that you know your stuff and I have no reason not to believe you. That said, I was wondering if you could please give me a few pointers on how to care for my whetstone or sharpening stone. I would be most appreciative!
Hi Michael, we would say its best to refer to the manufacturers recommendations for stone care. Some stone manufacturers say oil and some water. Most stones we use you have to soak in water for 1/2 hour or more, then you can use it. Let it dry when done and clean with WD40. This method works for us. But I would always check with the manufacturer of the stone or the instructions that came with it. Happy sharpening!
I dο accept as true with all of the ideas you
have offered for your post. Ꭲһey’re really convincing and can definitely work.
Nonetheless, the posts are tօo brief for begіnners.
May you pleaѕe prolong them a bit from next time?
Thank yoᥙ for the post.