So I bought a stone...

[Eurofighter]

Ebay is an evil place! I've bought a stone. It was advertised as Belgian coticule. I should have paid more attention to the pictures probably. Although my experience is rather limited I am quite sure this stone is not a coticule. Definitely and old stone: it came in a wooden box held together with wooden pegs. It is fine to the touch and it is glossy. Light shines through it. Is it a translucent Arkansas maybe?

[Steve56]

Yeah, it looks like a trans Ark that’s been used with the red honing oil which IIRc was automatic transmission fluid.

[Eurofighter]

Thanks! I'd better start reading about Arks then, as I don't know anything about them.
Should I do something special with it or just start testing it?

[outback]

Give it a good scrubbin, then let it soak in degreaser for awhile.





This can take up to several weeks, to get them clean

[Eurofighter]

It is not oily to the touch and it doesn't smell of oil either. I'll give it a scrub.

[Euclid440]

Yup, looks like, put it under hot water for a couple minutes to warm it up, then spray with oven cleaner and let sit for a bit, scrub and rinse. That will get most of the surface rust off.

Then soak in 50 percent water and any good degreaser, 409, Simple Green or Awsome is what is available in the states. The longer you soak the whiter it will get.

But if it does not smell it really does not matter what color it is. Lots of information on Arks and Translucents. Other that clean it I would try it on a razor before I did anything to the stone face. Chances are it has been burnished to a fine finishing face from years of use, and it would take you a long while to reproduce that should you lap or sand it.

WD40 will clean up the box.

Nice find a vintage stone, well prepped can produce a fine edge.