Cleaning and preserving stones

Casimer · February 3, 2008, 01:55 PM

What's the best way to clean and preserve various types of stones? - e.g. India vs. black ceramic vs. white ceramic. I've been given a small collection of second-hand stones. Their surfaces seems to be true, but they could use some cleaning.

Bill DeShivs · February 3, 2008, 02:43 PM

First spray with WD 40 and wipe.
Then scrub with Comet cleanser.
Spraying with brake parts cleaner works well, too. Watch your eyes!

Scorch · February 3, 2008, 03:01 PM

I scrub mine with a ScotchBrite pad and Dawn dishwashing soap.

Wayfarin'Stranger · February 3, 2008, 03:29 PM

Just out of my own curiosity and ignorance of this subject.....What do you guys use stones for?

Buzzcook · February 3, 2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Just out of my own curiosity and ignorance of this subject.....What do you guys use stones for?

Sharpening stuff

**Unclenick** · February 3, 2008, 08:16 PM

In gunsmithing, stoning trigger parts, mainly. I use coarser cylindrical stones to clean up and put final radius on a ramp polishing job.

As to cleaning, most of the the stuff in stones is gummed up oil mixed with metal particles. The best cleaning I've managed is an overnight soak in mineral spirits, followed by 15 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner. When synthetic stones get out of flat, you can further degrease and clean them in Greased Lighting or Formula 409, then rub them against a piece of flat plate metal with a hose running water over them until they flatten again.

Natural stones can be rubbed against a plate glass surface with lapidary compounds in a water slurry to flatten them. Use compounds a little coarser than the original stone for final finish. That roughened surface will wear down to the stone's natural abrasive grade quickly enough. If you polish them too finely, they will cut too slowly.

If you want a look at a good selection of stone grades, go to one of the Woodcraft stores. I was really surprised by how much variety they had.

Martyn4802 · February 4, 2008, 07:28 AM

I use a scrub brush with Comet Cleanser, and warm water.

Martyn

Inspector3711 · February 18, 2008, 11:41 PM

I'm bringing back a 25 year old Interarms Mark X custom .25-06. I was having trouble polishing the bolt in preparation for jeweling. The polish was causing the small pitted areas I was trying to remove to expand/gall. I was advised in another thread here that I should take an India stone to the bolt first in a gentle manner. I don't know why this didn't occur to me. The stone brings the undamaged surfaces around the pits down to pit level. The polish brings all surfaces down at nearly the same rate but also increases the diameter of the pits. I don't have a India stone on hand so I used a standard fine stone and followed up with an Arkansas stone. I got enough of the defects out that I'm now happy with the job and ready to polish it up. I'm not seeking complete perfection for fear of going too deep.

February 3, 2008, 01:55 PM	#1
Casimer Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 1,918	Cleaning and preserving stones What's the best way to clean and preserve various types of stones? - e.g. India vs. black ceramic vs. white ceramic. I've been given a small collection of second-hand stones. Their surfaces seems to be true, but they could use some cleaning.

February 3, 2008, 02:43 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,980	First spray with WD 40 and wipe. Then scrub with Comet cleanser. Spraying with brake parts cleaner works well, too. Watch your eyes! __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

February 3, 2008, 03:01 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I scrub mine with a ScotchBrite pad and Dawn dishwashing soap. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 3, 2008, 08:16 PM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	In gunsmithing, stoning trigger parts, mainly. I use coarser cylindrical stones to clean up and put final radius on a ramp polishing job. As to cleaning, most of the the stuff in stones is gummed up oil mixed with metal particles. The best cleaning I've managed is an overnight soak in mineral spirits, followed by 15 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner. When synthetic stones get out of flat, you can further degrease and clean them in Greased Lighting or Formula 409, then rub them against a piece of flat plate metal with a hose running water over them until they flatten again. Natural stones can be rubbed against a plate glass surface with lapidary compounds in a water slurry to flatten them. Use compounds a little coarser than the original stone for final finish. That roughened surface will wear down to the stone's natural abrasive grade quickly enough. If you polish them too finely, they will cut too slowly. If you want a look at a good selection of stone grades, go to one of the Woodcraft stores. I was really surprised by how much variety they had. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 4, 2008, 07:28 AM	#7
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	I use a scrub brush with Comet Cleanser, and warm water. Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

February 3, 2008, 03:29 PM	#4
Wayfarin'Stranger Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2007 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 115	Just out of my own curiosity and ignorance of this subject.....What do you guys use stones for?

February 18, 2008, 11:41 PM	#8
Inspector3711 Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2008 Location: Puget Sound Washington Posts: 1,553	What I'm using stones for I'm bringing back a 25 year old Interarms Mark X custom .25-06. I was having trouble polishing the bolt in preparation for jeweling. The polish was causing the small pitted areas I was trying to remove to expand/gall. I was advised in another thread here that I should take an India stone to the bolt first in a gentle manner. I don't know why this didn't occur to me. The stone brings the undamaged surfaces around the pits down to pit level. The polish brings all surfaces down at nearly the same rate but also increases the diameter of the pits. I don't have a India stone on hand so I used a standard fine stone and followed up with an Arkansas stone. I got enough of the defects out that I'm now happy with the job and ready to polish it up. I'm not seeking complete perfection for fear of going too deep.

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