Oil on Escher.......Suggestions?

OLD_SCHOOL · 07-25-2008, 12:09 PM

I left my Escher in the kitchen yesterday after using it, then today I found it had been moved out of the kitchen and placed upside down. To my horror there was oil on the honing surface, it had been there anywhere between 10-20hrs .

My initial reaction was to wash it in hot soapy water, but some oil has been absorbed. I'm guessing its cooking oil.

Would you suggest lapping it to remove the oil or just use it the way it is? I swear my foreign hones seem to be cursed eh. First the Coticule and now my Escher........

Chimensch · 07-25-2008, 12:29 PM

I don't have an Escher but most hones can be cleaned with oven cleaner.

kelbro · 07-25-2008, 12:34 PM

Soak it in reallly hot water to open the pores and then scrub it with dishwashing soap and a dish brush. If that doesn't work, a couple of shots of ether starting spray will certainly do it. Just make sure that the starting fluid doesn't contain 'top cyclinder lube'. Some brands do.

Brake cleaner works very well too.

JimmyH-AD · 07-25-2008, 12:38 PM

You could try cat litter. Not kidding. It is absorbent and might wick the oil out of the stone. Good luck.

hi_bud_gl · 07-25-2008, 01:56 PM

i do have couple of them and all of them says keep out of oil.i whish i knew how to help you how big is it?can you use dmt8.Someone long time ago suggested me to boil when i asked thisin the forum everyone said don't do it.i am sorry if you have success please let us know how it is done.

OLD_SCHOOL · 07-25-2008, 02:04 PM

I'm a bit worried to use hot water, because I think it may damage the hone somehow. Its also a green Escher, so I really want to be very careful not to do any further damage.

Its about 16x6cm +/-

Chimensch · 07-25-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I'm a bit worried to use hot water, because I think it may damage the hone somehow. Its also a green Escher, so I really want to be very careful not to do any further damage.

Its about 16x6cm +/-

Howard Schechter of www.theperfectedge.com recommends oven cleaner for cleaning the Norton and it's much more porous than an Escher.

JimmyH-AD · 07-25-2008, 02:56 PM

In auto parts stores they sell stuff that is similar if not the same as cat litter to pull oil stains out of concrete pavement. I would try baking soda or something like that as well. I mean covering the stone with the stuff and letting the substance you use absorb the oil.

OLD_SCHOOL · 07-25-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

In auto parts stores they sell stuff that is similar if not the same as cat litter to pull oil stains out of concrete pavement. I would try baking soda or something like that as well. I mean covering the stone with the stuff and letting the substance you use absorb the oil.

We have cat litter.... But its in the cats toilet

I'll check out the automotive store, coz baking soda is a specialty item here so rather pricey, unlike back home where its like LB per penny.

Thanks for the suggestions folks.

kaptain_zero · 07-26-2008, 03:30 AM

While you are in the autoparts store, might as well check for a spray can product for cleaning brake parts. Brake Kleen <sp?> is one brand sold locally and it is designed to remove every trace of oil from brake parts/pads etc. I doubt it would do any harm to your stone and it dries very quickly but please use it outside. It's meant to flush the oil off/out so it comes out of the can in a rather heavy duty stream.

Regards

Christian

JMS · 07-26-2008, 04:25 AM

Ovens with stone hearths were cleaned of oil in the old days with salt!
You might try burying it in a salt bag for a few days and see what happens!?

randydance062449 · 07-26-2008, 11:03 AM

I would try the absorbent routine first and the solvents last.

Some of the Escher type stones that I have purchased have had a dark, slick, glazed surface. I assume it was oiled. I simply lapped them and it went away. But the oil had time to dry.

So... I would try the absorbent routine first, then the solvents, then let it dry for a month or so and then lap it.

Just my two cents,

thebigspendur · 07-26-2008, 10:46 PM

The Escher is not a highly absorbent stone so it should not have penetrated that deeply. I would try the oven cleaner and worse comes to worse you can hone it down.

JimmyH-AD · 07-26-2008, 11:30 PM

JMS post above got me thinking, I have used salt and alcohol to clean foul ebay tobacco pipes. You fill the bowl with salt and put in some alcohol and leave it sit until the liquid dries and then knock it out. You can see the tar turning the salt brown in short order. I would try putting the stone in a leak proof container and then put in some alcohol and let it sit. Neither the alcohol or the salt will hurt the stone.

OLD_SCHOOL · 07-26-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMS

Ovens with stone hearths were cleaned of oil in the old days with salt!
You might try burying it in a salt bag for a few days and see what happens!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH-AD

JMS post above got me thinking, I have used salt and alcohol to clean foul ebay tobacco pipes. You fill the bowl with salt and put in some alcohol and leave it sit until the liquid dries and then knock it out. You can see the tar turning the salt brown in short order. I would try putting the stone in a leak proof container and then put in some alcohol and let it sit. Neither the alcohol or the salt will hurt the stone.

I was unable to make it to an automotive store, coz had forgotten about other plans that we had for yesterday (Saturday) So I put the hone in salt first. I will leave it a few more days and see what happens.