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What is the viscosity of Smith's HON1 Honing Solution?

Published: July 31st, 2024
2 min read
Smith's HON1 Honing Solution - 4oz Bottle - Lubricate Sharpening Stones - Built-In Stone Cleaning Agents & Rust Inhibitors - Oil for Tool & Knife Sharpening Stone - Prevents Clogged Pores
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Smith's HON1 Honing Solution is designed for sharpening stones like Arkansas stones and Diamond stones. It's non-petroleum and includes additives to clean the stones and stop rust, which makes it pretty handy for keeping your stones effective and running smoothly.

When it comes to viscosity, the manufacturer talks about it offering excellent lubrication. This is important because, especially for Arkansas stones, keeping them well-lubricated stops the pores from getting clogged, helping your stones work efficiently.

From what we found, people's opinions on the viscosity are a bit mixed. Some folks really like how it performs, saying just a few drops are enough to lubricate well and get a sharp finish on diamond stones, which means it's pretty efficient and cost-effective.

On the flip side, a few people think it's a bit too thin, almost watery. They feel it might need more of it to work as well as thicker honing oils, particularly if you like a thicker consistency.

So, whether or not you'll be happy with it can depend on your own preference for how viscous you like your honing solution.

Overall, it seems like it's good at improving the sharpening process and keeping the stones from getting blocked. Still, it's worth considering what kind of sharpening stone you have and whether you prefer a thinner or thicker solution.

If you want a non-petroleum option that cleans and protects your stones with good lubrication, Smith's HON1 might be worth checking out—but just keep in mind its lighter consistency might not be everyone's cup of tea.

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How we researched this

Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from 17 retailers, and a look at hundreds of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.

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Prices last updated: October 6th 2026 10:23 am

Considering the Smith's HON1 Honing Solution?

Here's our "TLDR" Review

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More Answers

If you're still curious about the Smith's HON1 Honing Solution, here are some other answers you might find interesting:

So, you're considering using Smith's HON1 Honing Solution on various sharpening stones? Here's the scoop based on our findings.

If you're using water stones, this solution might not be the best fit. Our research suggests that it's absorbed too quickly by water stones, kind of like when you spill a drink on a sponge.

This quick absorption means it doesn't really do much for the sharpening process on those types of stones.

But don't worry, it works well with other stones. The Smith's HON1 is actually pretty great when it comes to diamond stones and some of the harder types. Just a few drops go a long way, providing good lubrication without clogging, which makes sharpening easier and more effective.

People have mentioned having good results with diamond stones in particular.

The manufacturer's description also says it's good for Arkansas stones. Lubrication helps prevent clogging on these, and the HON1 seems to excel there too.

So if you're using Arkansas or diamond stones, this solution could be a solid option to keep your tools sharp and your stones in good shape.

In short, if you're working with water stones, you might want to stick with something specifically made for th

Read More

Comparing Smith's HON1 Honing Solution to regular mineral oil, there are some notable differences to keep in mind. Smith's HON1 is specially crafted for sharpening, according to how the manufacturer describes it. It's a non-petroleum solution with built-in cleaning agents and rust inhibitors, so it helps prevent stones from clogging and enhances the sharpening process.

This solution is quite versatile and works on different stone types, but it really pulls its weight with Arkansas Stones and Diamond Stones. These stones need good lubrication, and Smith's HON1 gets the job done by stopping metal bits from blocking the stone's surface, which can happen if they're used dry.

Our research shows that folks often find Smith's HON1 effective for stone lubrication, leading to better sharpening. It's quite thin—kind of like water—so you might end up using more of it than you would with thicker oil-based products during a lengthy sharpening session.

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