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Hi, Just found this in a box of my grandads old tools, not sure what type of hone it is can anyone help out?. Probably just an old oil stone. Cleaned it up and it is very smooth all sides with what looks like a speckle in it. Grey Blue dry and near black when wet. Also produces a slurry.
Thanks
Sorry forgot to say origin was from UK
Looks like a slate type to me.
The UK has a lot of places that produce decent slates for hones. There was a big slate industry running from Wales and Cornwall. This doesn't mean that the stone actually came from the UK. The problem with standard coloured slates is they appear in lots of places worldwide. And without identification marks like colour and inclusions you have no chance to even guess the origin.
Slates also have huge differences in the final finish. So you will only know by using it and comparing it to a modern synthetic if it is a razor grade finishing stone. The vast majority of slates I have come in somewhere between 3 and 6K. You can finish on them but the shave from the rock is pretty rough. Using pastes after the slate can fix that. I find it acceptable in most cases for knives and tools. Modern synthetics like the Naniwa 12K have eclipsed slates both in speed and finish. Oil makes the finish better, but it also makes them slower.
Thank you, great information have a few old razors which i will have a go with 👍Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceni
If you have not done so already send one of your blades out to be pro honed. It'll give you a benchmark for sharpness.
In the UK we have a few people who can do that.
Celtic crusader and Gary Haywood can do it.
Gary also has a small webshop that sells a few items that might be of interest. There is a gold dollar razor he sells that is already pro honed for £20 delivered. Gold dollars are known to be decent enough razors for shaving, but ugly, cheap, and problematic with grind when new. Gary deals with the initial problems so what you get is a cheap razor that should work. Buying one also gives you a cheap razor you have no fear of damaging. Meaning learning to hone with one isn't going to damage a good razor.
The Straight Razor Specialist - Razor Sharpening, Honing, Whetstones and Strops. Razor Sharpening UK, Razor Honing UK, Razor Sharpening Nottingham, Razor Honing Nottingham
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...ccrusader.html
Thanks again and agree some great advice, I have sent out my razors for pro hone. Thanks again some absolute top gentlemen on this forum. 👍
What are the measurements of the hone?
200mm x 50mm 25mm
8 x 2 x 1
hmmm, that doesn't bode well... almost every 8x2 hone I've seen on ebay or flea markets is as you first guessed, a random oil stone of a low grit that isn't suitable for razors. Though there are always exceptions to any rule. I wouldn't run any usable razors over that thing in the meantime.
Yes, I tend to agree. Likely for knives/chisels, esp as found in an old toolbox.
8" x 2" x 1" doesn't really mean much. Many good razor stones were historically available in that size. Silkstones, Arkansas stones, Scotch hones etc. The photos don't look like a SiC stone to me.
SIC ? ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by eKretz
Silicon Carbide - most dime-a-dozen old stones that aren't good for much but utility or early stage knife or chisel sharpening are made of silicon carbide (I.E. Crystolon) or aluminum oxide (I.E. India).
If that was a water formed slurry, you have a natural. Source unknown. Lap it and, as mentioned above, check its scratch pattern against a known grit synthetic hone.
~Richard
Thank you for the response, and yes that was just water formed slurry. A few other things that I have noticed is that it remains very cold in comparison to an oil stone, a little like marble. It also has musty smell but guess thats just age and being stored away for years. I have not yet purchased a set of hones as still not experienced to hone a razor, but do have a knife hone (1000/6000 shun wet stone) and will check the scratch pattern with this. Also purchased a di lap plate to level it off this weekend. Overall goal is to learn!! to restore and most importantly hone my own straight razors.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geezer
Tony
Many slate and other stones do have an earthy smell and some have plant matter embedded in them. Enjoy the journey!
~Richard
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrT1904
My slate hones have kind of a shiny look when water is put on them that oil stones don't have. After I lapped my Slates on my Norton Lapping stone I lapped one of them on my 1K King hone. That Indiana slate is a good finisher. Not real fast but almost as smooth as my Coti. I have a 5/8" Clauss round point that didn't feel real good after my 16K Shapton so I took it to the Slate hone & it smoothed right up with only a few strokes. Not quite as sharp but felt much better on my face. I used Smith's Honing Solution with just a little Ballistol on the slate & it worked just fine.
Slawmeister
Slawman, thank you. I have ordered my 60x loupe and have located some ballistol and some solution. Will probably check with a kitchen knife to start with, then try an old SR8 I have been playing with cleaning up and fitting new scales.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slawman
Cheers T
Just mix some Ballistol with the Smith's. The ballistol will turn the Smith's white but it is no concern.
As far as loupes go I found out that it is better to order two or three as replacement batterys cost more than a new loupe if you can find the batterys !!
Slawman
So, what about Welsh Slate? I know they're super affordable, but are they any count? Does anyone have experience to share?
Slate for me has always failed. I can shave off it, but I don't have a single slate that produces an edge that is an outstanding shaving edge.Quote:
So, what about Welsh Slate? I know they're super affordable, but are they any count? Does anyone have experience to share?
Thuringian, High end Arkansas, High end synthetics, coticule. For me these stones simply beat the slate without breaking a sweat, And price wise you can pick them up cheap enough if you search.
If you are looking to get cheap rocks to hone on then please think twice. Cheap gamble rocks can pay off but you still need a solid rotation of stones to be able to take advantage of any finishing stone. I would advise a norton 4/8 or naniwa 3/8. The cost is offset by the fact both of these stones can bevel set, and both of these stones can produce a shaving edge. Not as smooth as a 12K but perfectly usable. Once you have a rotation of synthetics you can start to play about with naturals, as you have the tools to be able to fix any problems.