Thread: help IDing a hone

Little bit green, slightly odd size...maybe a Vermont Slate hone? Just a WAG, slates are hard to ID because they're pretty common.

Looks a little like Llynn idwall from the last pictures mate .

Originally Posted by thebigG

Looks a little like Llynn idwall from the last pictures mate .

That's what I was thinking too! although there isn't much information out there about feedback and feel of the hone, or how they perform so i've had nothing to compare it to. It continues to be a really good stone.
I also got an escher of comparable color from another member of the forum here, it's definitely not that. the search continues! but i think the Llynn Idwall is what i'm leaning towards as well based on pictures...

I was thinking possibly LI also, but didn't say it. There's quite a variation in the appearance of LIs from what I've seen - especially since most guys include the Grecian or whatever they're called hones in the same category. I've seen LIs from grayish to greenish and both with and without dark spots. So it's a possibility based on looks, but nothing definite.

I would say definitely not a Silkstone though. I've got two labeled Silkstones and they are both identical in appearance and characteristics. One was brand new in box and still had all its saw marks and factory lapping marks intact. The saw marks on mine are pretty clearly made by a circular cutting saw blade, and the lapping marks were actually quite straight but fairly coarse - probably because of the use of silica sand to do the lapping.

Does anyone have much experience with LI's and can tell me what the feedback on those stones is like and hardness? this one is pretty hard, but not as hard as a CF

Originally Posted by Butzy

but nowhere near like my CF when you hold it to the light.

What is real color of the stone? I have simillar stone. It is not CF, probably it is type of LI, country of origin is Great Britan. It is novaculite.

Originally Posted by atercz

It is not CF, probably it is type of LI, country of origin is Great Britan.

How certain are you that your stone is not a CF? i will give you that it looks similar to mine though. Especially with the darker spots on it. Are the darker spots a little harder on yours like they are on mine?

In post #5 you show a wet picture with what looks like slurry. I don't know how you raised it but Lynn Idwalls are very hard stones that do not produce slurry easily. I guess it would take a DMT to do so. I remember late Henk Bos looking at my stones and identifying one of my antique hones as a Lynn Idwall after he had checked its hardness with his sclerometer. He said that Lynn Idwalls are the hardest natural hones around.

Originally Posted by Butzy

How certain are you that your stone is not a CF? i will give you that it looks similar to mine though.

I have 7 Llyn Idwal and 5 Charnley Forest stones. My conclusions are based only on a comparison of appearance, hardness and grinding behavior. This stone is harder than all my CFs and removes metal faster.

Originally Posted by Butzy

Especially with the darker spots on it. Are the darker spots a little harder on yours like they are on mine?

Darker spots are harder on my stone.

Originally Posted by Kees

how you raised it but Lynn Idwall

I rised slurry by Atoma #400.

Originally Posted by Kees

Lynn Idwall after he had checked its hardness with his sclerometer.

Thank you for your good idea! I'll try to borrow the sclerometer to test it.