For some reason old style oil stones for sharpening blades have gone out of fashion.   For a good portion of my life they were all you could find, which was fine with me.  With a good oil stone I can get a razor edge on any knife. 
    Somehow during one of my many chaotic moves years ago I lost my last real oil stone.  The new style "oil stone" isn't smooth like the old ones.  It embedded with  diamond microchips.  No matter what I do I can't get any better than a working edge with this new style stone.  With the old ones I could get a knife sharp enough to shave with.  I have gone online specifically seeking the old style stones.  When the arrive they are the newer kind.  It's like sharpening supply vendors don't know what a real oil stone is. It seems very much like the old style oil stones have disappeared.
    Does anyone know where I can buy an old style smooth oil stone? 

I don't know how to find one of the old oil stones, but with the new diamond embedded stones, I've had really good luck. I used to have a really hard time getting a razor edge (arm shaving sharp). But then I ran into this guy's videos and it changed how I sharpen. Now everytime i sharpen my knives I can get it to shave hair without touching skin. The hairs will just pop off (granted not every single one, but many do) as the blade passes through the unsupported hair.

The key was to get the burr to form and to LIGHTLY remove it. Once I started doing that....done. Well, that and having a good strop loaded with polishing compound, that is also key.

I recommend this guy's channel for anyone who is looking to understand sharpening and how to do it better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pagPuiuA9cY&t=15s

Sorry, Rat Man, not an answer to your question at all, just related subject matter.

I have a long history of oil stones as well as ceramic and diamond.
Real stones are still available but either old ones at flea markets / yard sales/ car boot.
Or, search on line for Washita stone nearly mined out but still producing in usa though word is much lower grade than they were.
There are others available, some from belgium and I forget where else.
These days I use diamond plates, convenient, quick and cheap to get my edge then strop to a finish.
Recently the wife bought a set of red corundum rods. They are about 4 inches long and go from 1/16 up to a 1/4 inch.
Took a while to get used to but so easy.
Good luck.
:) [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Try auction sites, country estate sales, antique and junk stores. You never know what you find at these places.

IronGoober wrote on Sep 5^th, 2024 at 12:56am:

I don't know how to find one of the old oil stones, but with the new diamond embedded stones, I've had really good luck. I used to have a really hard time getting a razor edge (arm shaving sharp). But then I ran into this guy's videos and it changed how I sharpen. Now everytime i sharpen my knives I can get it to shave hair without touching skin. The hairs will just pop off (granted not every single one, but many do) as the blade passes through the unsupported hair. The key was to get the burr to form and to LIGHTLY remove it. Once I started doing that....done. Well, that and having a good strop loaded with polishing compound, that is also key. I recommend this guy's channel for anyone who is looking to understand sharpening and how to do it better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pagPuiuA9cY&t=15s Sorry, Rat Man, not an answer to your question at all, just related subject matter.

This very well could be the answer I need.  I will check out the channel.

The thing that is the most instructive for me is the microscope close-ups of the blade's edge after a certain sharpening step, that really helps to understand what is happening. It definitely changed my perspective about how to sharpen and I'm much better at it now.

Check out woodworking supply stores I do woodworking and prefer the old style oil stones as do several  woodworkers I know ( except for use with  high alloy steels ) might also be under Arkansas stones as I believe that is where the stone is sometimes mined

jw wrote on Sep 13^th, 2024 at 2:16am:

Check out woodworking supply stores I do woodworking and prefer the old style oil stones as do several  woodworkers I know ( except for use with  high alloy steels ) might also be under Arkansas stones as I believe that is where the stone is sometimes mined

Thanks.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/stones/72834-arkansas-oil-stones?item=70M4015&utm_source=free_google_shopping&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping_feed&srsltid=AfmBOorBajc9diZ304pfPuA8eQAROotMdytWx6bcEPXPqOU9-5Tr8gUVq44

https://www.woodcraft.com/products/rh-preyda-arkansas-stone-kit-1-2-x-2-x-6-3-piece

Are these what you are talking about they're natural stone and the bottom ones are what I use for woodworking tools now you've got me curious as to whether or not I'm using the real deal

Happy ending.  A few weeks ago an old friend moved out of the area and gave roomie Mike and I a lot of his old stuff.  One item was an old style oil stone.  I'm back in business.  Knives are razor sharp again. 

Old dog doesn't learn new tricks, eh?

IronGoober wrote on Dec 11^th, 2025 at 9:51pm:

Old dog doesn't learn new tricks, eh?

Not in this case anyway.