Favorite oilstone "oil" and why.

[Frank Shaves]

I had been using food grade mineral oil and then recently tried WD-40 and am loving it - a tad thinner than the mineral oil.

 

[R7photo]

I like a mixture of Mineral oil/trans fluid/Diesel fluid
60/20/20

Dans is pretty nice too.

Ived used several mediums, nothing beats or come close to oil i received from Wid
This oil in every aspect, is superior and im lucky to obtain some from Wid
( thx Wid)
Can tell years experience testing went into this mixture
The results are simply spectacular

 

[Bowmaker]

Baby oil is just mineral oil with that scent added. It's probably the cheapest way to go, but I pay the extra for basic mineral oil because the smell of baby oil is yuck.

A feed store will have it cheaper, a gallon jug goes a long ways and I think I payed about $17 for it last year. I use it on butcher blocks and other things as well.

 

[silverlifter]

Ark - WD40
Slate - Lather or Glycerine
JNat - Lather

 

[Kyle89]

Side note, I was unaware WD-40 had a smell and that sounds awesome on an india. I've been tempted to soak an india down with a can of rem oil.

Haha it certainly does. There's even a cologne.

Pretty intrigued on WD-40 as a honing medium now since a few of you have good experience with it.

 

[Bowmaker]

WD-40 is really good, I usually use it, machine oil, or soap & water to finish razors. I don't really think there is a magic honing solution. I just prefer something thin, personal preference thing.

 

[Legion]

Mineral oil thinned with kerosene is what the old timers used to use a lot. But again, the smell....

 

[jj_sharp]

I use k1 on arkansas stones, and spyderco ceramics. It stinks some.

I use ATF on india and crystalon stones, because I have a lot of it on hand. If I didn't have ATF on hand, I would use mineral oil from the drug department.

I don't like the way baby oil smells. I prefer k1 smell to baby oil.

 

[duke762]

If you don't like the smell of a particular lube, you can add essential oils or scents. The wife makes me use Rosemary oil for my fading memory. Smell is not a big thing for me, performance is. Does it tick all my boxes.......if so it's very good.

 

[Herrenberg]

If you don't like the smell of a particular lube, you can add essential oils or scents. The wife makes me use Rosemary oil for my fading memory. Smell is not a big thing for me, performance is. Does it tick all my boxes.......if so it's very good.

There's a reason people started washing, instead of just dousing their bodies in scent.

 

[Steve56]

I’ve been good with mineral oil, glycerine, or dishwashing detergent. Odorless, and you can easily adjust the viscosity of glycerine or DWD with water. Odorless is important to me, I hone in my kitchen.

 

[Acmemfg]

3 in One. Been around forever and does what it's supposed to

 

[Kyle89]

Been playing around with WD-40 as of late and been enjoying it. Only 1 of my razors that I use frequently is honed with tape, and I do notice that some tape residue ends up on my paper towel when I wipe down the blade which is interesting. Hasn't affected anything throughout the honing process however but something worth noting. I think I prefer WD-40 on a blade with tape on my Arks actually. Otherwise I do think I'll end up settling for a thicker medium such as mineral oil.

 

[Eshebert]

As I mentioned, 3in1 oil has been my favorite for my Ark. In the last week I have tried a few of these recommendations, my wife pisses and moans about the smell of 3in1. And while I should just tell he to suck it up, I decided to play nice. I tried Glycerin, I do not like it at all. Can’t feel the contact with the stone. I tried baby oil, bingo! That’s the stuff, no off smell, the old lady shuts up, it does a great job, and I can feel my Ark when I am honing. Thanks to whoever posted that!

 

[SevereWX]

Norton Sharpening Oil and Smith's Honing Solution both work excellent for me.