[Minty]

Just a quick question as I havn't used one of these for years,are you supposed to soak them in oil as I'm sure I was told that?

[DD.]

I wouldn't say "soak" - just a few drops of oil should do the trick.

[Minty]

Thanks DD,

[waddecar]

If its new stone water will do just as well

[Larkshall]

If you use water the stone will wear quicker than if you use oil. I take it you are talking about a flat "oil stone", if you are talking about a stone for sharpening scythes, sickles etc. (a round double tapered stone) then it should be used dry.

[PinkTequila]

I have always used water on my scythe stone.

[Larkshall]

Well, going back about 70 years, when farmworkers had to walk or cycle to work and take their food and drink with them, they didn't carry a can of water for a scythe stone. At the
most they would have two bottles of cold tea (no milk or sugar) and their food.

 If they were lucky their wife or children would bring their tea in the afternoon, or if they were very lucky the farmer's wife would bring them some tea. They started work at 7.00am and usually finished at 8.00pm (they needed the overtime to buy the Winter clothes).

[PinkTequila]

Are you suggesting lubricating one's scythe stone with tea?

[Larkshall]

No. Would you, if you had to work from 7.00am until about 4.00pm and only had two pints of cold tea? Often in hot August weather. If you didn't have a family to bring your tea at around 4.00pm then you had to work on until 8.00pm.

[Paul Plots]

If you use water the stone will wear quicker than if you use oil. I take it you are talking about a flat "oil stone", if you are talking about a stone for sharpening scythes, sickles etc. (a round double tapered stone) then it should be used dry.

Well, there's something I have been doing right - I never put water or oil on my sharpening stone (It's not a flat stone for fine shrapening - It's one used for garden tools). It has lasted for almost ever.

[Rangerkris]

Whetstone nature's way dont use your tea good ol bit of spit will do the trick always to hand and where ever you go. Oil stone just a few drips shold do the trick you want a nice and thin oil not some glupy stuff

[David.]

Well, going back about 70 years, when farmworkers had to walk or cycle to work and take their food and drink with them, they didn't carry a can of water for a scythe stone. At the
most they would have two bottles of cold tea (no milk or sugar) and their food.

 If they were lucky their wife or children would bring their tea in the afternoon, or if they were very lucky the farmer's wife would bring them some tea. They started work at 7.00am and usually finished at 8.00pm (they needed the overtime to buy the Winter clothes).

The workers on my FIL's farm (well actually his parents') at that time (or perhaps 10 or 20 years earlier were also given cider, but that was in Gloucestershire.

[Paul Plots]

Cider....  especially rough cider... :blink: that'll keep the rust off those old tools!