Thread: Using Marble as a finishing stone

I dont know enough that i could argue with Ray, so i will just say thanks for the mineral lesson Ray. That was a lot of big words for me.

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.

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