Just wondering what cutting fluid everyone uses on their whet stones.
Having switched to DMT DiaSharp diamond plates (from wet/dry paper on granite)for most of my tool sharpening, I was using a water/dish soap mixture. The problem with it is that if there is any oil at all on the chisel or plane blade, it quickly turns into a grey gooey mess, so I have to scrub the stones. Watching a Paul Sellers video, I noticed he uses glass cleaner. So, having some windshield washer fluid available, tried that. Bad idea. Quickly turned the stones brown with rust (while I was sharpening!!). Into the sink with a slurry of Barkeeps Friend, and stones were soon clean again. Found out that ammonia free Glass Plus, Windex, etc, does work well without the rust issue, but still have some issues when I pick up a blade with oil on it.
So knowing that both kerosene (also diesel fuel), and mineral spirits make good cutting fluid, was wondering how widespread their use is for sharpening I am a little leery about using a combustible liquid in my wood shop (although I use it in my concrete floored garage on the metal drill press). Either would solve the water/oil goo problem, but result in any rags, paper towels, etc needing to go into the metal can until disposal, as well as the smell can get strong in a warm shop.
For my Arkansas stones, I usually use WD-40 or a light oil, but don't use them nearly as often as the DiaSharps.
So, for those not using waterstones, what is your go-to sharpening fluid?
Having switched to DMT DiaSharp diamond plates (from wet/dry paper on granite)for most of my tool sharpening, I was using a water/dish soap mixture. The problem with it is that if there is any oil at all on the chisel or plane blade, it quickly turns into a grey gooey mess, so I have to scrub the stones. Watching a Paul Sellers video, I noticed he uses glass cleaner. So, having some windshield washer fluid available, tried that. Bad idea. Quickly turned the stones brown with rust (while I was sharpening!!). Into the sink with a slurry of Barkeeps Friend, and stones were soon clean again. Found out that ammonia free Glass Plus, Windex, etc, does work well without the rust issue, but still have some issues when I pick up a blade with oil on it.
So knowing that both kerosene (also diesel fuel), and mineral spirits make good cutting fluid, was wondering how widespread their use is for sharpening I am a little leery about using a combustible liquid in my wood shop (although I use it in my concrete floored garage on the metal drill press). Either would solve the water/oil goo problem, but result in any rags, paper towels, etc needing to go into the metal can until disposal, as well as the smell can get strong in a warm shop.
For my Arkansas stones, I usually use WD-40 or a light oil, but don't use them nearly as often as the DiaSharps.
So, for those not using waterstones, what is your go-to sharpening fluid?