I had to google it. Cool spot. We all miss the boat from time to time. There will be other chances at other spots. Those rocks probably had fish poo on them anyway.
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I had to google it. Cool spot. We all miss the boat from time to time. There will be other chances at other spots. Those rocks probably had fish poo on them anyway.
Most of us are just flying by the seat of our pants. If you look through the thread it kind of hits on points here and there of what we are looking for and what we have found. The short version is shale and slate. It needs to have some very very small crystals in it. It cannot have quartz inclusions or lines. The softer rock is easier to cut and lap and slurry. The things that are most sought after in hones is bevel setters and finishers. Bevel setters are very hard to come by. Finishers are hard to come by and the intermediates seem to be most of the rock. You are welcome to join in on the fun anytime. If you are just learning to hone you are better off with synthetics. Rockhounding however you can do at any point! Get your boots and a hammer and start looking.Quote:
Originally Posted by salvat36
Or stop by road cutouts and get them with flip flops, lol
I have to say, I love reading this Thread! Does anyone have a nice source on geological information? maps with what type of rock is where, that sort a thing
as a climber I see lime-, sandstone and granite, but I don't think those are going to work :P
The possibility of finding a bevel setter is probably better in sandstone than shale or slate. I doubt that you could make a hone out of granite. However I have to add that I'm no expert. Not on hones or geology.basically we are just looking more or less around the areas where we live and checking different rock and seeing if what we find is suitable for sharpening. You never know until you look is the basic pretense.
Granite contains silicon oxide, and has been used for many ages as a sharpening stone. Even today, I have seen sharpening wheels made from granite.
Limestone doesn't work, and when you find a stone, it usually looks like it can sharpen when holding it, but can't. It's also extremely difficult to flatten, worst than a Chinese stone or a hard Arkansas. The perfect waste of time.
For the sandstones, all of them work to some degree, but it's quite possible to have inclusions, or a bigger particle every now and then, that damages the edge. Good for sharpening, but the scratch pattern may not be as uniform as it should.
From all that talk, I missed my soon-to-be-hones stones I collected from an island I went last summer. The whole island was a single piece of SiO2 minerals. When my friends were swimming, I was collecting chunks from next to the beach. I ended up with so many, I was afraid to put them in the trunk of the car. And, as I was driving, my friends were holding them, stepping on them, and sitting on them, to distribute the weight evenly (they are great friends).
And, all of them are good stones, but they have a huge variation, I doubt I collected the same type twice.
When I cut and flatten them, I'll upload some photos.
It's not hard to find a stone, but it's hard to find a really good one. Good luck guys!
It is possible but not likely. And saving money only works if you don't count your time and other expenses.Quote:
Originally Posted by salvat36
OTOH, little squared-off rocks can be used for all sorts of decorating too. I mean heck, now that i can cut the stuff. I may dress up my stepping stones, and make other things from the rejects.
Best of luck.
Have you considered the USGS? Welcome to the USGS - U.S. Geological SurveyQuote:
Originally Posted by Bram
Of course it's not easy to navigate the massive dotgov site (never is). I found maps of my area somewhere--shows maybe 7 shades of colors for my state, then the KEY for reading the color-coding is only 150 colors long with 27 shades of yellow, green, etc. Impossible to quickly determine anything.
I too would be interested in more "sharpening stone learning" but it appears to be a tiny side-show of the grand geological interests.
I'm not sure how to get back to it, but the multi-part work by the modern sellers of coticule is a good in-depth read.
It's kinda simple as i understand it. Find rock, slick off one side, test rock. Just have to find the right density of cutting particles of the right size held together tight enough but not too tightly by the rest of the rock, with good purity.
Simple, not easy. But the more of us there are poking and scratching around out there, the more likely it is we hit on something. Not likely to be a world market concern, but maybe a lifetime supply for a fella and his pals and possibly others who are brave enough to slap razor to wild-caught stones.
Here's something i surfed up: http://lumberjocks.com/Daren/blog/2835 (the forum version same guy, with discussion: http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f11/s...ake-them-2411/)
My rejects are part of the weed barrier under my shrubs and the really small pieces get used for drainage in the bottom of flower pots. They are hell on lawn mower blade when they get lost in the grass though!
I'm so tempted to go have a look in charnwood forest.... It's only about 30 miles from where I live...
There is still a lot of stone available in the Charnwood forest, but the quarry is in private property. And, quite small, I don't think you'll find "Charnleys" just from walking in the forest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceni
yeah I'm looking for the quarry now and I can't seem to find a lot of information on it.
It seems most of the quarrying was done at Coleorton, And it looks like there is a quarry slightly north of this location. But I also found a source that places CF at another local village called Thringstone.
Might be time to pull out the geo maps of that area and look for some water courses.
http://bosq.home.xs4all.nl/info%2020...ing_part_3.pdf page 19.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceni
Thank you so much for that link. I now know where to go and where to park. I'm going to head to the big charnley forest quarry and hop the fence over at Nanpanton. They look to have a walkway down from this side on the map. If they don't I may have to chance my plans. I'll be packing a 24Lb sledge hammer and a crowbar I think :D
You should go look. There are things to find I'm sure. I think we would find more if more people look.
You are welcome, but it's Mr Henk who did all the work. And, if you happen to find any stones, I'd appreciate it very much if you could get one for me too. Shipping and lapping on me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceni
I have two more ready to test. I think one is from the yard stone, and the other is another piece from 10 miles North.
Now to figger which blade i'm going to use and grow some more whiskers...
Really getting upset about this.... I don't want to have to drag my 4 year old out to go rock hunting. I mean do I really want my kids childhood memories, of his Dad taking him "Rock Hunting" eh...........he'll get over it....
According to the geological survey around here, Peach Bottom is the place to be, 1/2 hour south of me is Slate
Also Chickies Rock (North of me), both are along the Susquehanna River.
I think that would be an awesome childhood memory. It's way ahead of my father gave me $20 to wait in the truck outside the place where the ladies dance naked. Actually I think the $20 was to keep my mouth shut. Hehehe
Same here!Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasilis
Right should be heading to chanley forest today.
I'm taking a scout leader, and a guy that works at an historical site. We should be able to wangle a way into one of the quarry's I'm hoping for the back garden. Also taking camera's and a few tools.
Should be able to pull the Iron age sword hone angle from one guy, and the educational purposes for the other. At the house quarry.
What I have observed about natural stones in countries who quarry and sell them is, when a country is famous for its woodworkers like Japan, or/and has a heavy steel industry like UK. Those two by far the most famous countries for their stones.
And then, there is Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, USA, Canada, Greece, Spain, etc. that have at least one quarry of a stone that can be used almost purely for sharpening.
In most cases, it's the need for sharpening media from the people for their jobs, and that need made them search for those stones.
And the internet of course. Who knows how many quarries of quality stones are exploited in countries that people use them everyday, and don't care to make them famous in the world. Africa, biggest part of Asia, south America etc. People in those countries did have the need to chop wood, made wars with sharp, shiny instruments, and need a sharp edge to cut their food.
My main point is, there might be excellent stones in many places, that could easily rival the legendary stones of the past. It's us, who couldn't find it, because we didn't search for it, again because there was no need.
The best quarries didn't dry up, the best ones, are waiting for us to find them.
I don't know what planet you live on, but in my world your list (absent "people and private property issues") is pretty much the textbook definition of fun!Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
My sentiments exactly!Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasilis
Right today was pretty good.
We only went to the big quarry, It's a hard trail down to the top face, and lugging a backpack full of rocks back up was hard work.
This is the bigger quarry.
You can't see from here but the drop down is very steep. You have to walk round and look for paths.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/...95e176ef_o.jpg
That's a picture of me and my roman re-enactor mate James in the background.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/...65bffe8a_o.jpg
A close up of some of the scree at the bottom of the top face.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/...4d8bb9a4_o.jpg
The top face.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/...40913df5_o.jpg
We didn't go lower into the quarry. I wanted to see what was at the top first.
One thing we did notice is this stone likes to crack. I'm not sure how good my samples will be as they all came out of the scree, I think to get the best stone extraction with a hammer and bar is probably ideal. I'll show off my bouts later when I clean them up a little.
it's the out-of-doors! let your boy pick up rocks too, or whatever. Call it a hike. go fishing too. Wait until summer and hunt for snakes and scorpions as well...Quote:
Originally Posted by Trimmy72
How much do you actually remember from that age (without pics to refresh you)? It's not him, it's his momma you gotta please. :nono:
__now back to my shales__
SO i stopped at another site today. THESE rocks are different. Look the same, but are denser and make a black, not brown, slurry.
Denser by guesstimation, no actual volume/mass checking-hell that's like lab work, and i'm a precision guesstimator anyhoo :thinking:
Maybe i whip out some other steels...the lil' Genco is being difficult, still setting bevel/removing last trace of frown.
FTR these are P-1 rocks. (so i don't forgets, i suck at keeping actual notes). And one of them has some "other color" in the plane, but it doesn't feel like it will be an issue. I want to test that too, but do have enough thickness to grind it out. maybe.
Here's some images of the first bout.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/...0911e4b8_o.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/...b2cfaae7_o.jpg
And a quick scratch pattern without oil.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/...7ebc8fca_o.jpg
It doesn't look like a classic Charnley stone. Is it novaculite? For the scratch pattern, I'm sure it contains abrasive material, but is it suitable for honing?
No it doesn't look like classic CF, But I have seen other hones in this rock. I put a knife on it last night to test it and it left a better finish than a 6Kjap. The oil I used came off very black after about 50 strokes. I'm going to go up again today and see if I can get on the whittle hill site and check that material out. That stone is only finished on a DTM 400, and it looks like it will take a higher grit. I have another couple of bouts from this site to test as well. I did this one because it was the closest to flat.
The other block is far more glassy to the touch and may be closer to what is expected of this stone. Until I get into it I'll have no idea tho.
Charnley Forest or not, it's beautifull hone! I'll have to go there some day myself (and the plane ticket is probably cheaper then buying one from the bay :hmmm: )
I'd also like to see some pic of the stone with black slurry :popcorn:
Looks good, keep me in mind when u get some spares! Still working on some kentucky stones for you guys! Got one good one right now but it is kinda small
I have to say that is looking pretty good. Part of the learning process here is to figure out which rock in a giant pile of rocks is going to produce the greatest result. We all have some workable hones and as time passes we will likely get better at seeing the end results while looking at all those rocks. Many of them look the same, but as soon as you start to work them they change.
Just found out today we have what's called Peach Bottom slate around here. I have my brother helping me locate it, he works GIS. Now to find pictures of what it looks like.....probably slate ha ha
Slate is a very broad spectrum and can look like almost anything. Most however is a generic dark grey, happy hounding!
Always amazes me when they produce slurry of a totally different color than the stoneQuote:
Originally Posted by RezDog
We managed to get onto whittle hill today.
Initially the owner was out, so we left a note and went to look in a local woods. About 45mins later we had a call. The owner is a nice gentleman, who was more than willing to let us poke about and take some samples. IIn return he would like a small hone for his kitchen. That is an easy trade to do!
The haul.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/...e1f8851e_o.jpg
This is one of several faces of this rock. In total there are at least 5 pits. The stone just pulls out.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3701/...40af940b_o.jpg
The Matterhorn! This block is huge, At least 24" long, and it has a lot of thickness to it!
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3716/...7eeaab13_o.jpg
The first test grind on a small lump :D
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/...b9b5b100_o.jpg
Definitely a better source, and this is the correct material for hones. I estimate I have enough material for 10-15 hones of various sizes.
I call dibs lol, hows the grit compare or have you done any comparisons yet?
I don't have a CF to compare it to. That small block was done on a dtm150, then we went in the house. Then we were playing and ran it on the other bout I made yesterday.... The result is both bouts began to polish.
I can't do a grit comparison til I get this small bout fully flat and polished but it looks very promising... The slurry was also white with initially a green hue, that turned a little pink as the rock got flat.
I'm out of the house now till sunday, but I should be able to get the stone onto some 1200 grit wet and dry then have another polishing sesh on the other bout to see where it goes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceni
There is Novaculite around there from what I saw, don't spend your time on stones that are able to scratch a spoon, search for actual Charnley stones. And, you don't have to have one, look at some pictures, it's pretty much what it looks like.
That whole seam is novaculite. The coating on the stones it just weathering. When we did a walk through the woods further up there was a lot of previous quarrying evidence. Lots of hills with the sides taken out ect. It seems that the whole top layer is this material and the stone I got the other day is the underlying layer from the larger quarry. As we walked through the woods there were tonnes and tonnes of the same material brought to the surface by tree roots. We had to hold back on the gathering as there was just so much of it. The larger blocks I have all exhibit the classic red spots and lines.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vasilis
The surface polish on the small bout is also very similar to the surface of my trans black arkie. The material is softer, and the glassing is more spaced but it has the very same polished grit rather than loosing grit effect.
I'm a very happy camper atm :D