Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Knife Sharpening Oil?

[Buffalo]

I recently bought a three Arkansas Stone knife sharpening system from Cabela's. I hear that an oil is needed on the stones for proper sharpening. I saw some oil at Cabela's but, it seemed quite expensive & I didn't buy it. Is there something else that would work well in this matter? Possibly something around the house like motor oil, 3 in 1 oil, cooking oil, olive oil or is it imperative that specialty sharpening oil be used? Thanks.
Buffalo Joe

 

[DavidC]

Can't help you with that but I am glad to see your still alive and kicking. Maybe I just missed some of your posts. I was just thinking a few weeks ago " I wonder what happened to Joe ".

Dave

 

[Cooper_D]

Light oil works

You can even use liquid soap.

It keeps the metal shavings suspended.

If you buy the oil at cabela's it will probably last a long time.

 

[Buffalo]

Thank you for your replies. I think I should have just bought the oil at Cabela's. It's not easy being a "cheapskate"!!! However, I do have a number of different oils around the house and thought maybe one of them might work. I'd rather use them than buy more oil.

DavidC.
I don't get on the TDR s much as I used to. I used to get on just for the entertainment value of learning about our trucks/engines. Now, it's more when I have a question that I would like to have an answer to. Do you remember the electric tongue jack I bought from you for my trailer? I loved that jack. It was really nice. Well, my neighbors had a crew come out to trim their trees that were hanging over my trailer. It was fairly early in the morning and they asked me to move the trailer. The crew was sitting on the ground waiting for me to move the trailer so, I hurried-up, hitched up the trailer and pulled it out. I raised the jack to the point that I thought it was safe to move but, not all the way. When the back of the truck went over the curb, the trailer tongue dropped to the point that the bottom of the jack dug into the ground and started plowing dirt until it hit the sidewalk, at which point, it stopped plowing & just bent. I could not get it straightened out so I had to buy another electric jack. This one works but, is nowhere as nice as the one I bought from you. Moral of the story, don't rush a project!!!
Nice to hear from you, again.
Joe

 

[The patriot]

When I shaved with straight razors, I used ATF and it was fine.

 

[TJJEEPER]

I second the ATF. Any cheap ATF will do.

 

[JLEONARD]

I've always just used spit/saliva.

 

[BarryG]

I used to be a meat cutter in a past life and sharpened knives almost daily on a 3 stone system. I never found any difference in oil as far as how sharp or how quick it got the knife or how long the edge lasted. We mostly used a food grade mineral oil but I tried many different types. I didn't like the real light stuff though it still sharpened up fine. You do not need some expensive oil you don't need to worry about shear, temp, viscosity, additives or anything else. You are really just looking for something to provide some slick and to suspend the minute shavings of the metal and the stone. Heck even water or spit as JLeonard suggested works fine. It is mostly about proper technique.