Thread: Hi guys unsure of stone grade

Hi guys,

I got this stone today off my uncle seems pretty straight and in good nick but I am unsure if it's an oil stone or water stone or what grade it is. It feels like a fine grade on the black side but I don't know to be honest.

Anyone here able to take a guess or advise if I could use this to touch up my razor the bevel was set by a professional honemister. I would like to start maintaining the razor myself so thought this would be a good start

Thanks again guys for any help

My blade is a white Dovo best quality 6/8

Either side looks a bit too rough to be used for the touch-ups.

Looks very much like the type of stone knife shops sell. I picked one up that looks almost identical to that from a cook shop in Belfast. If it's the same type then it can be used either with oil or water but once you use oil or if it has been used with oil you need to continue to use it with oil.

In terms of grit, it wasn't stated on mine just "rough and smooth". From the scratch pattern and feel from known grit size on similar type stones I'd rate the rough at the 300 grit mark or there abouts. The "smooth" side which does actually feel smooth I'd say it was 800 to 1k. Maybe useful for setting a bevel but I don't think it's really much of a razor hone.......sorry

I could be completely wrong it's just An observation from the pics and comparing it to stones I have that look the same.

With water it creates a slurry super quick and I thought maybe it could be of use. Would it be ok for the kitchen knifes if not the razor?

Was hoping I could use it for the razor then finish it off with 0.5micron pasted strop then my normal strops but guess the search will have to continue

If anyone knows where to get dirt cheap stones in the UK please let me know

Originally Posted by Danzano

With water it creates a slurry super quick and I thought maybe it could be of use. Would it be ok for the kitchen knifes if not the razor?

Was hoping I could use it for the razor then finish it off with 0.5micron pasted strop then my normal strops but guess the search will have to continue

If anyone knows where to get dirt cheap stones in the UK please let me know

It will put a decent working edge on a knife but don't use the rough side. It won't be amazing but it will be ok. I wouldn't let a razor anywhere near it personally and you certainly won't be able to use it and go to croox. Assuming it's what I'm 99% sure it is.

Don't waste your money on cheep stones they are quite frankly junk, save up and by good stones )

Originally Posted by mike1011

It will put a decent working edge on a knife but don't use the rough side. It won't be amazing but it will be ok. I wouldn't let a razor anywhere near it personally and you certainly won't be able to use it and go to croox. Assuming it's what I'm 99% sure it is.

Don't waste your money on cheep stones they are quite frankly junk, save up and by good stones )

Thanks for the advice mike if I was looking second hand or for an old barbers hone in the UK do you have any idea of any good ones that might be common or easy to find?

Originally Posted by Danzano

Thanks for the advice mike if I was looking second hand or for an old barbers hone in the UK do you have any idea of any good ones that might be common or easy to find?

Im sorry I don't, probably eBay ? I'm new to straight razors myself, I got into it from an interest in knives(kitchen ones mostly but to be honest if you can put an edge on it I'm interested in any bit of steel ) which ive done a fair bit of sharpening which is why I recognise your stone. Razors though require a completely different approach to honing/sharpening, that's not to say honing a razor is more difficult than sharpening a knife its just the way you do it is different.

Personally I use a combination of naniwa and chisora stones. I had them for sharpening knives but as it turns out they are highly regarded in the straight shaving world as well which is a bonus. I just added a 12k stone for razor use.

There are lots of roads that lead to sharp and this site has loads of info on hones for razors, some inexpensive options and some expensive ones

I suppose the biggest quecheep is, what would consider cheep and how much are you willing to. Spend ?

The stone is not for razors, it's related to the stones in this link. You can read through the link & the related threads. then you will have a good knowledge of the stone you have. Use it for knives & other work tools.

Carborundum Hones - Straight Razor Place Library

Looks like an older Norton coarse/fine that I have for knives and tools. I don't use it much anymore for knives because my hone collecting has grown. I don't think I would use it for razors (judging by texture in pictures).