Replies

1. 
   SgianDubh | Mar 28, 2005 09:33pm | #1

   Water + vinegar + a stiff bristled scrubbing brush, or even a coarse nylon abrasive pad. Oh yeah, don't forget a bit of elbow grease.

   Use them wet and you'll almost never need to clean them anyway. A plant spritzer and water works fine for wetting the surface in use to carry away the swarf and gunge. It's been working for me anyway for the last several years and I can't remember when I last cleaned mine-- maybe two years ago? Slainte.

   RJFurniture

1. 
   Sphere | Mar 28, 2005 09:43pm | #2

   Thanks Richard, These we given to me and I never used ceramic before..I was using them dry or with some spit like a diamond stone.  They are pretty doggone fine grained that's for sure.

   I'll scrub em up and keep playing with them. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   "Sell your cleverness, Purchase Bewilderment"...Rumi

1. 
   Patto | Mar 29, 2005 05:10am | #5

   I keep a sauce bottle (plastic) with a little detergent in water next to the stones (diamond and something else pretty fine). I find that this takes up any residual oil and gunge left on the tool and keeps the stones pretty clean. About the only thing it doesnt fix is if I get a contamination with paste wax.

   David

2. 
   TomHigby | Mar 29, 2005 02:30am | #3

   When I bought mine I was advisd to scrub them with "Comet" or some similar mild abrasive household cleaning powder.  It works.

   Tom

1. 
   Sphere | Mar 29, 2005 03:02am | #4

   Thank You. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   "Sell your cleverness, Purchase Bewilderment"...Rumi

3. 
   jazzdogg | Mar 29, 2005 05:37am | #6

   Sphere,

   In addition to what the others have said, if they start to dish, you can flatten them quickly and easily using a diamond stone lubricated with water to carry away the waste - keep an eye out so you don't end up with a tapered ceramic stone.

    

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

1. 
   Sphere | Mar 29, 2005 01:39pm | #7

   Dish?  Good Lord, that seems impossible. The stones are REAL hard ( and I don't use just them).

   I have , in order of my chonological purchases.

   Norton 2x8 F/C india

   2x8 Hard Ark.

   3 Waterstones

   2x8 fine diamond

   1x3 fine diamond (in my wallet)

   12x12  3/8 plate glass for selfstick or scary sharp

   a homemade strop ( leather glued to a paddle, charged one side w/ red rouge)

   A dozen shaped hones.

   Needless to say, none get over used enough to dish! {G}

   But thanks..I'll keep an eye on them. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   "Sell your cleverness, Purchase Bewilderment"...Rumi

1. 
   jazzdogg | Mar 29, 2005 07:27pm | #8

   Sphere,

   I guess I'm conditioned to think in terms of the kind of abuse that can be heaped upon woodworking equipment, like sharpening stones, when used by 600+ students per semester!

    -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

4. 
   tailsorpins | Mar 29, 2005 09:19pm | #9

   As mentioned: Comet or Ajax & water will clean up most ceramic (& other)stones.  Used with a blend of kerosene (75%) & light oil will help keep them that way.  Old Carborundum & India stones used to come "filled" with parafin to keep the fluid working/floating on the surface, not leeching through the porus surface where it does no good.  The kerosene & oil works well with them, but the surface tension is too low to work with the unfilled stones sold today .... forcing people to use plain heavy oil just to keep it on the surface.

   John  

5. 
   jackplane | Mar 29, 2005 10:55pm | #10

   Drop em in boiling water for a while. Always works.

   "Anything is possible with a big enough expense account."

   Hunter S. Thompson