Include photographs
An oil stone, or sharpening stone, is a tool used to sharpen the edges of knives and other tools. It is typically made of either aluminum oxide or novaculite and consists of a rectangular block or cylinder that is often sold with a lubricant such as vegetable oil. It may also be filled with water instead of oil, depending on application. To use the stone, one simply runs the knife, scissors or other tool across it at an angle in order to sharpen its edges. The user then applies more pressure to create a finer finish. When used properly over time, regular sharpening will help extend the life of any blade.
| Visuals |
Add a video tutorial
An oil stone is a type of whetstone, an abrasive device used to sharpen and hone the edges of tools. Oilstones use oil as a lubricant and are typically made from two stones, one (the base) harder than the other (the surface). The surface stone is generally made from either silicon carbide or aluminum oxide and is often referred to as coutellerite. To properly use an oilstone, first oil should be applied liberally onto both the top and bottom stones. Then using light pressure with even strokes across the width of the blade, sharpen the edge of your tool. This process should be repeated until you achieve the desired sharpness. Watch this video tutorial for a visual demonstration on how to use an oil stone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnGpz5B10Kc
Link to additional resources
An oil stone is a sharpening tool used to sharpen blades such as knives and chisels. Oil stones are made from one of two materials, natural stone or man-made materials such as aluminum oxide or silicon carbide. Regardless of the material, an oil stone requires that the blade be lubricated with cutting oil which helps create a slurry in which metal particles can be very finely ground off of surfaces being worked on by the stone. This process helps to achieve a much sharper edge than what would otherwise be possible with conventional honing techniques.
Some helpful resources for learning about oil stones include:
Knife Sharpening Tips: How to Use an Oil Stone – https://www.knifeplanet.net/knifesharpeningtipshowtouseanoilstone/
Sharpening Made Easy – A Primer on Using Waterstones, Oil Stones and Other Sharpening Tools – https://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tips/techniques/sharpening/sharpening-tools
Sharpening Knives with Natural and Synthetic Oil Stones – https://stonecoalcreekforge.com/thenewwebsite/sharpening_knifes_nat_syn_oilstones
Provide examples
An oil stone is a block of fine-grained and highly porous sedimentary material (usually natural stones) used for grinding, sharpening, and honing edges on tools. It is also commonly referred to as a whetstone as its abrasive properties can be used to harden or sharpen blades. Oil stones are often coated in oil or paste lapping compound, which helps keep the particles from clogging the pores of the stone.
Oil stones have many applications and can be used for a variety of sharpening tasks, such as woodworking, knife sharpening, metal tool sharpening, crafting tools, chisels maintenance and more. For example, with wooden tools such as chisels, drawknives and plane irons an oil stone can help create a precision edge using back-and-forth lapping motions with fine grade grinding materials before honing with finer grades like sandpaper; likewise it can also help craft detailed edges when sharpening knives or scissors. They’re also great for removing small imperfections on metal surfaces such as scratches or burrs.
Make it interactive
Have you ever heard of an oil stone? An oil stone is a general-purpose sharpening stone used for honing the edges of items such as tools and knives. It consists of two components held together by a block, usually made of aluminum or plastic, with a coarse and fine side that are combined with honing oil to provide lubrication.
What kinds of items do you typically use an oil stone to sharpen? Do you have any tips or tricks on how to properly use one? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!
Offer tips for beginners
An oil stone is a type of sharpening stone that is made from natural materials with particles that are fine enough to hone an edge. They come in either very hard grades, such as Arkansas stones or softer grades like Hard Translucent stones. Oil stones typically require some kind of lubricant like oil or water to provide the best results.
Here are some tips for beginners to use when working with an oil stone:
1. Start off by prepping the stone with a few drops of oil before you begin honing – this helps condition the surface and make it easier to work with.
2. When sharpening, move the blade at a consistent speed across the surface in one direction only (or take small strokes back and forth). Avoid pushing too hard against the stone as this can cause damage to both the blade and the surface of your stone.
3. Don’t forget to clean your stone after every use, using a soft brush and soapy water or mineral spirits depending on what material your stone is made from. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing away safely.
