QUESTION:
The temperature in my shop regularly dips below freezing in the winter. If there’s any water in my waterstones, it freezes, expands, and breaks them. Can I use oil to lubricate them instead?
Benton Landers, Minneapolis, MN
ANSWER:
According to waterstone manufacturer Norton, you shouldn’t use oil on waterstones because the oil will clog the stone’s pores. That would keep slurry from developing. Slurry is a soupy mixture of water and loose abrasive particles, and it’s what does the honing.
Your best bet during the winter is to keep your waterstones in a heated area. Or you could just switch to another sharpening method.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Mist Coolant System
A mister for keeping tools cool while you hone them on your grinder. This mister has a base that can be screwed to a support near your grinding wheel or drill press. It conveniently hooks up to a small shop compressor, and by charging it with coolant, you can keep tools rust free.
Wen Diamond Grinding Wheel
Diamond grinding wheel is perfect for flattening grinding wheels before honing chisels and plane blades
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