Thread: Ugly is only skin deep?!

That's a very interesting stone Richard. But sounds like it's a keeper. Looking forward to what some of the stone guys say.

OK works fine on the computer, guess it's a mobile thing. Not using TapaTalk though.

As for the stone, no idea what it is, but I've noticed in my own experimentations that certain natural stones will take on totally different characters if they are lapped differently. Some stones it makes as near as no difference, but some can be drastically different with a coarse lap vs. a fine lap. I've found that usually the finer lap is truer to the stone, and the very coarse laps will cut really fast for a short time but then start smoothing out.

Hi Richard,

really looks like an interesting stone. Definately no Escher type devonian age thruingian waterhone. If of german origin it looks like an ordovician stone. They typically do have those "flakes" in the stone matrix that appear while lapping the stone. But also some Lyn Idwalls have this (and others, normally hard stones especially the novaculite).
The interesting thing is your report on how the stones work. Actually I am researching some old german whetstone quarries with stones that can be used like coticules. Prepared with a thick slurry, you can set a bevel with them in relatively short time, than going through the whole progression by watering the slurry more and more and finally get the endfinishing with only water. Your description sounds like this hone you showed has comparable possibilities.

Well, can you make some more detailled photos of the surface of the stone. Are there any red or blue/black spots visible? How hard is the stone compared to typical coti and an ark?

Following is a photo showing the surface of some german ordovician whetstones that might have a somehow comparable look to yours?

More photos:

Wet:

Side:

~Richard
Similar in hardness to a hard Coticule or common slate, not as hard as a "Dragon Tongue."

I have a llyn Idwal with similar flaking but it's pretty hard.

And I think his stone is the one closest to my hone. Hardness is in the fingers of the beholder!

~Richard
Thanks Piet!!

I love mystery stones, I have couple of them, I never know for sure what they are. As for this stone I would say Llyn Idwal, from the dished side the stone was used on tools or knife. I have stones ,around 6k , and they leave a shave ready edge. Congratulation Richard, on whatever this stone isi