Oils to use with finishing stones?

[Phip]

I ordered some Gesswein finishing stone sticks for polishing my locks but I forgot to order any of the special looking oil they sell to use with the sticks. http://www.gesswein.com/p-11758-supreme-green-stoning-oil.aspx

I don't want to place another order because I probably wouldn't restrain myself to just getting the oil I need.  Does anyone have a proven substitute?  Thanks.

[smart dog]

Hi Phip,
I use simple mineral oil from the grocery store.  It has no smell and is easy to clean up.

dave

[Ed Wenger]

Phip,

Paraffin oil works well (can be purchased through Woodcraft), but second Dave's suggestion about mineral oil...


         Ed

[P.W.Berkuta]

I use 50/50 -- auto trans fluid & kerosene. Shake it up before each use.

[Jerry V Lape]

Okay, you opened a new can of worms for me.  I am not familiar with the use of polishing stones.  What are their advantages over the various sandpapers, aluminum oxide films etc for polishing things like flintlocks?  Or are you using them in some other manner?  I need educated - again. 

[Ed Wenger]

Jerry....  Some people like the polishing stones because they can be a little more aggressive with getting the casting surface off of a lock.  I've found them to be most beneficial when polishing a steel (frizzen), that hasn't been annealed.  Files just don't work well on a hardened frizzen, and sand paper can take quite a while.  If you anneal the frizzen, that's a different story...  Another advantage of stones is that you can keep edges of the lock sharp, that sometimes can get a little soft, even when using backed sandpaper, at least for me.  During the course of polishing a lock, I typically find I'll use all three; files, stones, & sandpaper.


       Ed

[flehto]

Have always used mineral spirits w/ the softer Gesswein stones..  The softer Gesswein stones are self cleaning  because they shed the grit, but do shrink in size.  Use oil w/ the harder stones. .....Fred

[Mark Elliott]

Norton sharpening stone oil is just mineral oil.   That is what I use for stones that require a lubricant.   

[Hemo]

The Gesswein oil also works very well with their stones. Comes in a big jar full of thin blue oil.

Gregg

[Phip]

I'm liking the mineral oil suggestions, guys.  I have plenty of that since I buy in bulk for cutting boards.  Thanks so much.

[Dan Fruth]

I worked as a machinest for a tool and die company and did most of the polishing. We always used kerosene because it floats the contaminents out of the pores of the stone. I guess oil would work, but the polishing fluid sold by the suppliers is the same consistency as kerosene, but costs more....Dan

[P.W.Berkuta]

I worked as a machinest for a tool and die company and did most of the polishing. We always used kerosene because it floats the contaminents out of the pores of the stone. I guess oil would work, but the polishing fluid sold by the suppliers is the same consistency as kerosene, but costs more....Dan

+1 -- thank you Dan