WHY must your OIL-STONE be kept clean? =>16 photos

  THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC ON OIL STONE CLEANING.

 I prefer to repeat essays that are EXTREMELY beneficial to jewellers and novice stone setters.

  The reason for this important cleaning process is to avoid 'pushing' the engraver steel remnants into the delicate pores of the oilstone.

 If we keep rubbing the shards of metal deeper, the final result
will be that the graver will just run on the stone and be rendered nearly useless.

 This topic has been discussed many times, but it needs to be revisited frequently. Each time, I might use different texts & ideas.

 I would like you to share this information with your colleagues or students. 

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  You can see a faint layer of oil resting on this expensive oil stone. This stone is not like other porous oil stones, but it's created for finer metal cutting.

 This stone rubbing must not be used in 'short strokes'. The rubbing should extend 1/2 to 3/4 of the length of the stone. This is why you will anticipate a collection of metal remains all over.

               NEVER USE YOUR STONE WITHOUT ANY OIL.

 If you see a collection of metal remains, STOP!!! Clean the stone!

  You see that there is a little layer of steel sitting on the oil stone. It doesn't belong there, why? This collection will interfere with your future graver rubbing.

  Even if there is a little layer of oil (as seen here), add a gentle touch more to assist your grinding.

 No matter where on your oil stone grinding is being used, keep it well lubricated. After even a few minutes of stone rubbing, remove the steel remains.

 In this photo, the amount of important oil shown is insufficient for normal usage.

This is the optimum amount of oil; nothing less than this.

 Here are my two oilstones. The 'brown coloured' stone is very porous and also so very coarse.

HOW CAN THE METAL REMAINS BE REMOVED? I use a strong magnet to 'lift' the metal off from the oil stone.

  To replenish the old oil from the surface of the stone, I suggest a low viscosity of oil. Motor Oil is too thick for this purpose. Don't take this route.

 These engraving tools need to be in perfect condition at all times, hence the many times that these tools need to be refined.

 Even at he end of the day, from metal sculpting. The oil stones need to be constantly kept clean.

 NEVER RUN YOUR GRAVER BLADES ON UNOILED SURFACES. The reason is that the steel will overheat, which will occur at the very tip of the blade.

 Furthermore, the graver remnants will get stuck in the pores of the stone.