Wetstone? Oilstone?

[swirlingeddy]

Hi ive been given several sharpening stones from grandads shed, how can i tell if they are oil or water stones?
most are very dry. any help out there? cheers, swirling&&&&

[caskwith]

Stick it in water, if it soaks up water its a water stone, if the water is repelled then its an oilstone. Don't try this the other way around

[TB_London]

Try giving them a smell as well, oil stones tend to have any oily smell to them, but putting some water on them seeing if it soaks in or beads on the surface will tell you whether they are full of oil or not.

If they are harder natural stones then you can sometimes change them from oil to water by lapping away the surface

[basetta70]

Do they are natural stone or some coming by carborundum?

[swirlingeddy]

Several of each, cheers for advise everyone....s&&