Thread: Sealing natural stones

Originally Posted by Steve56

Not much to it Jerry, read the directions, put it on thin and let it dry. Maybe do 2 coats. If you get it on the face of the stone you'll need to lap it, and make sure the corners are clear of sealant.

Cheers, Steve

Your saying dont seal the corners?
I think only the Jnat will get sealed. None of the others. To bad i dont have some of this sealer already. Got a few varathains but not marine stuff. Guessing the marine stuff 8s even more water proof, although i cant see how one is more water proof than the other. But what do i know.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Your saying dont seal the corners?
I think only the Jnat will get sealed. None of the others. To bad i dont have some of this sealer already. Got a few varathains but not marine stuff. Guessing the marine stuff 8s even more water proof, although i cant see how one is more water proof than the other. But what do i know.

The top corners of the face. IOW, chamfer the corners/edges of the face just like usual.

Cheers, Steve

I had a Chinese Guangxi (CNat) hone that was starting to crack. I had a can of Minwax PolyCrylic in my shop, so I tried that. It did a fine job of sealing the stone, but if I soak the stone in water, the coating turns milky white, only to clear up again when the stone dries. Thus, for an inexpensive C12K, this is probably an appropriate sealant. However, for an expensive JNAT, I would want something better.

Spar Varnish or marine grade urethane is probably a better candidate. Minwax sells a product called Helmsman Spar Urethane that might be a candidate for the application..

The policrylic is not very water proof. I read up on that stuff. Its ok but just not great. I sealed and finished some scales with it once. Worked fine but i wouldnt soak it in water. I did read about the minwax stuff and was hoping to find some locally as soon as i get a chance. Seems like it was about the only one that might be around. Although im only looking in hardware stores. Maybe i should be looking at marine/boat shops. Waite a minute, hey Outback, how about sending me a couple onces? Bet hes got some at work. Ha.

Oh, I might be able to find some, but we don't have it on hand.
I'll take a look around, see what I can find

Nice to hear you are you are getting a Jnat! Yes I would definately seal it. Wont hurt it and I think it makes them look better to boot. Hope you enjoy it!

Ive had one for about a year. Also the nagura stones, but havent got many good results from it yet. I just put it aside for another time but havent gotten back to it yet.

Mike, i was just kidding. Figured if anyone would ha e it on hand it would be you, the boat guy. By the time we shipped i might as well buy some. I thought for sure you would have the stuff on hand. And in 55 gal drums.

My Answer to nail polish. Snap on a spray handle and use painters tape to cover areas you don't want it to go. Works quick and pretty easy. Sealed all mine with this. Now I do have a stone sealed with black urshi I bought that way and it is really cool, but using something clear lets you see everything and you don't even notice it is really there.

Originally Posted by rideon66

My Answer to nail polish. Snap on a spray handle and use painters tape to cover areas you don't want it to go. Works quick and pretty easy. Sealed all mine with this. Now I do have a stone sealed with black urshi I bought that way and it is really cool, but using something clear lets you see everything and you don't even notice it is really there.

This is what I use to seal the labels. It is so unnoticeable that sometimes I forget if I put it on or not. I have had difficulties getting the tape to stick to oil stones so I had to rig up some newspaper as a sort of “drop cloth” around the stones. I’m sure there is an easier way.

Originally Posted by Steel

This is what I use to seal the labels. It is so unnoticeable that sometimes I forget if I put it on or not. I have had difficulties getting the tape to stick to oil stones so I had to rig up some newspaper as a sort of “drop cloth” around the stones. I’m sure there is an easier way.

Sealing labels is how I came up with this. I don't use oil even on my CF stones which was the first label I used it on, but I also find my oil stones to be so dense that they don't need sealed. I have mostly used it on Tomo nagura, Mikawa nagura and the rest of the JNATS. I have sealed one really old coticule that had areas underneath where water could creep in.