Thread: Another whats under the stone post.

Received this 2nd hand natural sharpening stone from the U.K this morning.

Under all that old oil and grime there are features that indicate its most likely crystaline novaculite in structure, an oil stone, either Washita or Arkansas.



The same stone after being flattened reveals much more of the stones natural features.



During the flattening process, indications are, its a hard stone, slow slurry releasing, most likely pointing to its identity as being Arkansas.

To validate that fact, requires some mathematics to work out the stones specific gravity. (SG)

Weight of the stone = 515 grams.

Mass ( 20.1 cm x 4.7cm x 2.3cm) = 217.28 cm3

515/ 217.28 = 2.37 g/cm3

SG = 2.37.

Using the following site as a reference; http://www.danswhetstone.com/stone_grades_101.htm,

It identifies the stone as being within the Hard Arkansas range of 2.30 - 2.45 SG / 800 - 1000 grit.

StewieS;

Should be an excellent finisher/polisher. I have a translucent Arkansas that I use occasionally after the Select Coticule for a little more polish and smoothness.

Washita

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Give it a hose of Oven Cleaner, a scrubbing with a scotch brite and a Simple Green bath and you will have a very good idea of what it really is.

If it’s an Ark, put a razor on it before you lap it, it may have a hundred-year old burnished finish on it, that will put a nice edge on a razor, who knows, next time...

If you want to get all the oil out, Simple Green and water and a good soak, I have soaked Arks for up to a year, to get an old Lilly White pristine and clean smelling.

Lately I have been using 99 Cent Store “Awsome” on some stones with better results than Simple Green for soaking. Glass Pasta jars with the clamp on lids and rubber gaskets, from the thrift store, work well to keep the air out, change the water and degreaser every couple weeks, until they stop releasing black oil.

Nice find, should be a good bevel setter or tool hone.

Originally Posted by aaron1234

Washita

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aaron; I am prepared to listen. Put forward your case that the stone is not an Ark, but a Washita.

StewieS.

Also looks like many grimy washita stones that I have cleaned up. I'm not close to as knowledgeable as the folks here though.

I have a Washita that is similarly colored. Great stone for me.

Stewie may be right in this case. The volume (not mass, as he inadvertently labeled it) of the stone if it's a Hard Ark or Washita would be less than his calculated volume, because Hard Arks and Washitas are somewhat porous (not to mention any missing volume due to chamfers, corner rounding etc). Less volume means the density would actually be slightly higher than his calculated density. Thusly it would pretty much have to be a Hard Ark if it's really from the Ark family of stones.

Originally Posted by StewieS

aaron; I am prepared to listen. Put forward your case that the stone is not an Ark, but a Washita.

StewieS.

I have no big reason. A while back I posted a stone real similar and it was identified to be a Washita by the people on this forum. Personally if you brought that stuff to me and asked me what it was I would say it's a Washita.
I still have yet to fully lap this Stone.

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Well all have stated fine views on natural hone grit. Only remaining point is how to rate a nat hone? The last resort, after trying the hone on tests razors, could be to lick the hone and thereby comparing it to a synthetic of similar grit. There are threads about it here and thou the method is weird, it does work and gives a good key to the hone grit.

Just don't do it when the wife is at home. [emoji23]


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