Thread: Hindostan hone.

Received this Hindostan in the post today from the u.k. Dimensions are 8" x 2 1/4" x 5/8". Out of flat on both major surfaces as well as being badly stained with iron oxide. In need of some serious work.





After flattening on all sides with 220 sic powder on float glass.



Flattening on all sides with 320 grit W & D.



End result after using 400 grit W & D.



Any of the members have experience using Hindostan Hones. Do the respond better to water or oil, what is the likely grit range, and would you classify them as a good quality hone. ??? Any background history on the Hindostan is also most welcome.

StewieS.

Victoria, Australia.

From what I remember, and from my experience with one example, they are oil stones more suited to knives and tools, not really for finishing razors. Native to the area around Indiana in the USA. Used for gravestones (markers) quite a bit in that region years ago.

Thanks for the feedback Jimmy. I was able to source some more info on the Hindostan Hone on pages 15 & 16 of the following site. https://bosq.home.xs4all.nl/info%202...ing_part_3.pdf

regards

StewieS.

Originally Posted by StewieS

Thanks for the feedback Jimmy. I was able to source some more info on the Hindostan Hone on pages 15 & 16 of the following site. https://bosq.home.xs4all.nl/info%202...ing_part_3.pdf

regards

StewieS.

Thank you ! That is a great PDF. I knew about the work of the late Henk Bos but never saw the PDF before.

Jimmy; the following attachment is part #2; https://bosq.home.xs4all.nl/info%202...ing_part_2.pdf

part #1s content is covered within parts #2 & #3.

StewieS

Originally Posted by StewieS

Jimmy; the following attachment is part #2; https://bosq.home.xs4all.nl/info%202...ing_part_2.pdf

part #1s content is covered within parts #2 & #3.

StewieS

Thanks once again Stewie. I've saved both PDFs to file on my hard drive. IIRC when Henk first made the info available it was not in English, so at the time I didn't save it. Great info there.

It can also be noted that Hindustan stones have a large grit variation from stone to stone, some in the 3 to 4k range and some can be found as a finisher.

Mine is around 4k, but not suitable for a razor. I only use water on mine. There are too many odd sized grains that effect the edge of a razor. I do use it from time to time on knives, but mostly it gathers dust.

Thanks for this thread! I have a natural stone I got at a flea market in Indiana a few years ago. One side was very dished out & I have yet to fix that. The other side was pretty flat so I worked on that side & got it very flat. Seeing the finished picture of your stone confirmed to me I have a hindostan also. It has the typical sandstone color with the black splotches
I know the area where these were mined in southern Indiana near French Lick. I have found that this is a really hard stone & mine is also probably in the 3K to 4K range. I would love to find one of the quarries & get some rough stones to work on.

Slawmeister ;-)

I have one from my great grandfathers tool box that I think is a hindostan also. When I mentioned to my wife about taking a vacation to Indiana to check that area out....