Thread: Using Marble as a finishing stone

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Granite is composed (usually) of three things: Quartz, Feldspar and Mica. The hardness of the three vary tremendously and the distribution of these minerals is totally chaotic. So, if you used a granite hone you blade would be simultaneously exposed to all three.

It doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

This is most certainly true. However not all granite is the same. I'm from Atlanta originally. The granite there is a very uniform mix of quartz and mica. It's the stuff you see in everyone's driveway, up there at least. That was really what I had in mind not the stuff that you see in most people's kitchens. That north Georgia granite is not colorful enough for most people to use for countertops but it is probably more uniform than an Arkansas stone.

If it's quartz and mica it ain't granite. Feldspar is a main ingredient in all granite. The types of feldspar vary and granite can have several other igneous rocks mixed in too. Like all rocks there are infinite variations in the compositions.

Even if the rock you have was only quartz and mica the difference in hardness is extreme between the two.

Moving right along... I think I'll stick with my synthetics. It's a more even matrix anyway. Just a thought. Not a debate.

There are folks that “Hone” on a variety of abrasives, smooth cement, bottom of coffee cups, a red brick and all manner of rocks found in the wild.

There are marble gold testing stones that are of high grit, uniform abrasives, that could hone a razor, usually in the 4-6k equivalent range. It is possible to maintain a razor on such a stone and further polish an edge with a pasted or plain linen and leather strop.

If one is an accomplished stropper, with just good linen and leather, one can get most any edge shaving, given enough time. The stone just needs to bring the bevels to meeting. The strop and linen do the rest.

There is a reason, most folks do not hone on cement, coffee cups and red bricks, and for hundreds of years have use Slates, Arks, Coticules and Jnats.

So perhaps this guy has found a piece of high grit marble, (some naturals finish better than others) or it could be he is just not that picky about his shaving edge. A lot depends on the razor also.

For most it is about technique, there are no magic stones. A synthetic stone progression has made it easier, simply setting the bevel fully then running up the grits removing each previous grit’s stria. Is a simple, easy to follow process, that most can do effectively. Now days with synthetic micro grit pastes and sprays even easier to finish a razor and keep it shaving for a long time.

Even with the availability of known grit stones, sub-micron pastes and sprays, for me nothing beats a good Ark or Jnat edge.

Once again the voice of reason Marty. In another thread someone ask the question about who razors were made for which then brought to bear the matter of where they came from. The ancient Egyptians shaved as did the ancient Hebrews from records 2000 years BC. These were almost certainly Flint since this would have been in the early bronze age and it's unlikely in my mind that bronze of that caliber could have been made sharp enough for reliable shaving. I think Flint would have been more inclined to take a sharp edge. Even so, can you imagine trying to shave with that's much less get and retain an edge on it?

...although I would imagine that carefully crafted obsidian could be made insanely sharp and it would likely not need much maintenance

God, Marty. You nailed it.!
I only honed my razor on one stone, for nearly 30 years. The strop was my progression. Mind you, my hone is only say 1500-2000 grt. rating, looking thru a loupe.

My strop was an old leather belt, which I put different grade's of buffing compounds on the suede parts of the inside of the belt, leaving the outside clean for finishing.

I won't say it was the greatest edge, but it worked for me, until I gained the knowledge of the different stones used for straights. Thanks SRP.!

We learn from error... If you don't try it, how will you ever know. Go for it, Paul.! Then we'll all know for sure.

I think I will Mike just so I can say I did. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

I think I will Mike just so I can say I did. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Well I can give at least a preliminary report back. I took a razor that had been honed with 4K/8K progression and had been used to the point where it needed some attention. It's one that I don't care that much about if something happened to it. I didn't want to use any of my prized ones in case everything went south, although I didn't expect that I could do much damage really; just send me back to the stones. So anyway I went to the granite top kitchen table, wet the edge with some water, just plain water. I ran 50 low to no pressure laps in an X pattern and then took it to the leather. 20 laps on the plain suede side and then 40 on the smooth side. Nothing fancy, no flax linen, no cotton, no pasted cloth, just the leather and it was greatly improved to what I'd consider a fine edge, finer than it was after the 4k/8k pyramid and a thorough post hone stropping.
I know this isn't really scientific and I'll try it comparatively with one of my finer razors and try to report back something more thorough but at least suffice it to say that it did in fact improve it

But what's it look like under 20-30 power loupe.? That's what I'm curious about.
Does it leave any scratches, or did it burnish the edge, type of things.