I am wonderng if I need to go out and purchase something called "mineral oil" or whether I can use any petroleum based oil to intially charge my honing wheel. Any thoughts? Does it really matter? Can I just use "3 in 1" oil?
Mineral oil can be found at your local pharmacy.
Machine oil is not as nice to work with or breathe. Mineral oil is the base for almost all hand lotions. It conditions leather as well as it conditions your hands.
The wetstone honing oil from Norton Abrasives is a fine grade of mineral oil. Itis of a thinner viscosity than the pharmacy stuff and I like the way it penetrates the leather.