Diamond Stone Maintenance

[Dennis Hibar]

Okay, still practicing and learning. Have a question I couldn’t find addressed here. Maybe because it is because it falls into that common sense category. But …. I have to ask anyway. What kind of maintenance should be done on the diamond stones? I know how and when to clean ceramics … since my early experience with sharpening was with a Sharpmaker. Should, and if so, how often … and how are the diamond stones be cleaned? I have read what with bench stones, rinsing under water after each use is recommended and periodic cleaning with a brush and water is called for. I would assume that some type of cleaning true for the WE stones. How often and what is the recommended method? Thanks.

[David]

I clean mine with some warm water, dish soap and a scrub brush. I cleaned mine when I could rub my finger on the stone and get a decent amount of filings wiping off the stone. Then I just put them on a towel and let them dry overnight.

[Dennis Hibar]

Thanks. My initial thought before posting this question was that if cleaned regularly with water and left to air dry …. they might start to rust over time. Then, I got to thinking that most diamond bench stones can be used wet or dry … and most that are used wet are recommended to be used with water rather than oil. I have found instances of rust forming on stones reported on various sharpening forums … but that seems to be attributed to filings left on the stones (and in most of those cases, the reports were from sharpening wood carving tools … so it is probably tool material specific). I may try just brushing them off after each use, then washing as needed.

[Ziggy]

I’ve had good luck using a stiff brush, some Soft Scrub/water in a bowl to dip in, then rinse with warm water.
I then simply stand them up in the dish rack to drain and dry.

One thing I learned not to do is soak them in a hot solution ….. it softens the glue and had a ceramic pop off.

[Dave Schur]

Yep, I just scrub in some barkeepers friend (cause I have it sitting around, I wouldn’t go out and get it just for this – just use dishsoap) and then let air dry. I Do it every 10-20 knives or so, really just to keep the dust/dirt down.

I do the same for the ceramics.

[Dennis Hibar]

Again, thanks all. I have plenty of Barkeepers Friend around … which I have used on ceramics. Also have a couple bottles of Soft Scrub under the sink …. so think I am set.

[Author]

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