There’s nothing like having a sharp chisel to work with. As the old saying goes, “sharp tools make for less work.” But what if your chisels are getting dull and you don’t know what to do? Well, we’re here to help.
An oil stone will give your chisel a great sharp edge and keep all your sharp edge tools functioning like new. Oil stones are excellent for sharpening chisels due to their low maintenance and also because you do not need water to use them.
Oil stones are great for restoring dulled edges, maintaining the sharpness, and helping to prevent rust from forming. Just a little bit of honing with an oil stone can keep your chisels like new.
Taking all the details into consideration, let’s go ahead and look at some of the best oil stones for sharpening chisels.
Best Oil Stone for Sharpening Chisels
IRWIN Marples Chisel Sharpener Tool Set
Pros
- It can be used on many other metal materials.
- It is a durable and long-lasting sharpening tool.
- It is easily portable.
Cons
- Not all angles can be sharpened to the desired degree (up to 30 degrees.)
The IRWIN Marples chisel sharpener is the perfect tool for getting a good edge on chisels and other edged tools. It is one of the best-selling sharpening tools on Amazon. They are an innovative, easy-to-use, and reliable way to sharpen your chisels.
The IRWIN Marples 1786757 Chisel Sharpener Tool Set will help you get your chisels in top-notch shape in no time. This package includes 8 sharpening stones of varying degrees, perfect for keeping knives, scissors, and other cutting instruments nice and sharp. The product also comes with a handy guide that will help you get started quickly.
Beginners, as well as professionals, can use this chisel sharpener toolset. It is an ideal tool for any carpenter, cabinet maker, joiner or other tradespersons who use chisels for their work. Chisels are the most useful tools in a woodworker’s kit, and keeping them sharp will ensure that your work is good.
Product Details:
| Product Dimensions | 1.69 x 7 x 10 inches |
|---|---|
| Item model number | 1786757 |
| Size | 1 Set |
| Color | As the picture shown |
| Material | Stone |
Stanley 16-050 Sharpening System
Pros
- This system does not require any additional accessories, which makes it more convenient than other systems.
- It is a versatile and portable sharpener.
Cons
- It may be difficult for you to see the angle of the chisel as it is being sharpened.
The kit comes with 1 oil stone, honing oil, 1 honing guide, and instructions. It is capable of sharpening any tool that is used for woodworking or metalworking like chisels, hand planes, razors, or shears.
The Stanley 16-050 Sharpening System comes with a set of two sharpening grits: medium and fine. The materials for this system are all made in the USA.
Additionally, the oil used to lubricate the oil stone is white, mineral-based honing oil. It’s non-toxic and safe to use on any metal tool. The stone itself is made from aluminum oxide and has a unique shape that allows for sharpening flat and curved tools.
It is extremely durable and doesn’t wear down quickly like other stones on the market.
The steel base of this sharpening system is not only practical, but it also looks great. It’s very sturdy and doesn’t wobble around while you’re sharpening your chisels or other tools.
Bora Sharpening Stone – Green Silicon 501098
Pros
- This stone is very easy to use and doesn’t require any special care to keep it in top shape.
- It offers a fine polish and leaves a clean, fine edge.
- It is flexible and long-lasting.
Cons
- There have been some users who say that the stone can be a little too abrasive.
Bora Sharpening Stones are designed for sharpening and honing and restoring old tools such as chisels. Bora Green Silicon 501098 is a new sharpening stone that has been engineered to last longer, sharpen better, and quicker than any other sharpening stone.
It is made of silicon carbide, which is known to be one of the hardest materials on earth. It is tough and will last a long time. The tool requires oil for lubrication, so it must be used with either water or oil as a lubricant.
The oil acts as a cleaner, just like when you clean your hands with soap and water after working in the garage. It also acts as a lubricant, which prevents metal from being ground against metal.
When sharpening tools or knives, carbon steel or stainless-steel blades will be prevented from rusting. This stone is ideal for chisels and other tools that require sharpening.
Arkansas Sharpening Stone Set – Wood Mounted 8″
Pros
- The stone is made of high-quality materials and is easy to handle.
- It also helps you maintain your chisels and stay sharp longer.
Cons
- This stone set is expensive.
- No storage case provided.
The Arkansas stones are known for their quality and finish, and they are among the best oil stones out there today. They take less time to sharpen your tools than the water stones do.
Arkansas Sharpening Stone comes in many different grits graded by how fine or coarse they are. The coarser the grit, the more material you can remove from the blade with each pass of the stone.
The rough grit of this set ranges between 220-1000. This makes it ideal for sharpening a chisel in order to get a fine edge. The price is quite reasonable and can be afforded by most people, especially since it has been made from natural products.
It uses oil or water to lubricate while you sharpen them.
Norton Knife Sharpener Stone Oil for Tool and Knife Sharpening Stone
Pros
- It features a greenish-brown finish that prevents rusting of your stone, preventing smears on delicate surfaces when polishing.
- It is easy to carry around in your pocket or bag.
- It is quite affordable.
Cons
- The oil leaves a bit of oil residue.
Sharpening your knives is among the most important ways to keep them in good working condition. That said, one of the easiest, quickest, and most practical ways to sharpen your knives is with a Norton Knife Sharpener Stone Oil.
The best part about this particular oil is its long-lasting, non-stop sharpening effect during ordinary use. It’s designed to work on all different types of blades, including serrated, stainless steel, carbon steel.
There’s little reason not to get this oil for your knives. The only thing is that it’s so good you’ll be tempted to use it on all sorts of sharp objects like scissors and tools too.
Types of Sharpening Stones
Sharpening stones come in three general types: water stone (or whetstone), oil stones, and diamond stones.
Oil Stones
Oil Stones are a newer sharpening stone type. These were created when steel blades replaced softer iron blades in sharpening knives. Oil Stones contain abrasives that do not lose their abrasiveness as quickly as a whetstone.
For sharpening edge tools such as chisels, oil stones give great results and require low maintenance as they do not to be flattened often. They can also be used without water so you’ll have fewer trips back and forth between your sink and your workbench.
Whetstone or Water Stone
Water stones are the oldest type of sharpening stone. They are used to sharpen knives, swords, and chisels. Water stones are also commonly used for sharpening chisels and other edge tools but they require more care and maintenance than oil stones.
Diamond Stones
Diamond Stones are newer to the market than oil stones but have one distinct advantage over both oil stones and water stones: Diamonds!
Because diamonds are so much harder than other sharpening abrasives, they will not wear down as fast as other types of stones. The diamond particles used for this type of stone typically do not have to be flattened as often as oil or water stones.
How to Sharpen a Chisel with an Oil Stone?
- Place the sharpener flat on the surface such that it is horizontal and stable.
- The sharpener’s corners should be placed against two edges of the workbench, which could be grasped by both hands to provide stability.
- Begin by sharpening one side of the edge you want to sharpen towards its center.
- Finally, move the sharpener and repeat these steps along the other side of the edge while maintaining the angle between the chisel and sharpener.
- Using an oil stone is the traditional way to sharpen a chisel, but there are also other methods available, including water stones, diamond stones, etc.
- Another method of sharpening a chisel is with a powered grinder, which can generate more heat than manual methods of sharpening.
Do you Need a Honing Guide?
The answer is yes. A honing guide is essential when using an oil stone because it allows you to keep the same angle when sharpening your tools. If you don’t have one when sharpening your chisels, you can use a thin strip of wood to achieve this effect.
How to Maintain your Sharpening Stone?
One way to maintain your sharpening stone is to inspect the surface after every use. Another way to take care of your oil stones is to have a file or diamond stone for quick touch-ups once in a while.
Overall, the best thing you can do for your sharpening stone is to use it correctly and make sure it wears down evenly. You always want to maintain your tools.
Closing Thoughts
Sharpening your chisels is the first step toward having sharp tools that can be used for all of your projects. Keep in mind that sharpening chisels do not mean you will need to spend hours on the task. It simply means that your chisels do not have to be dull.
That said, sharpening a chisel is not an easy task, and it can be very frustrating if you don’t know what you’re doing.
That’s why we recommend the IRWIN Marples Chisel Sharpener Tool Set to make this job easier for anyone who needs to sharpen their tools often. This kit will have all of your chisels razor-sharp again in no time!