An interesting Rock from the Potomac River

[Johntoad57]

Last year I went to the DC area. We went kayaking on the Potomac River. I'm always searching for slate as a honing stone (see what you guys have done to me!) and found this rock. I had to lap it and burnish it, but it was totally worth it. It's unbelievable how it puts an edge on a razor. Take a look at the pictures, you'll be surprised.

This is how the stone looked straight out of the river


This is how it looks after I lapped it


Here's the size compared to a straight razor


Here are the sides. Notice the layering of the stone?



In closing, this stone really puts a smooth crisp edge on my razors. I just can't believe that it works this well.
Thanks for looking!

[RezDog]

Nice find. I love finding good rock for hones. It is very pretty with all the variegation of colour. It works well to, so a spectacular find.

[randydance062449]

.
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Don't tell anybody exactly where you found this!
Then you can go back and get some more!
Can I be the first in line to buy one?

[petercp4e]

Looking at the stone's picture right out of the river, I've got to hand it to you for recognizing its potential.
A mighty fine find indeed!

Pete <:-}

[Johntoad57]

.
.
Don't tell anybody exactly where you found this!
Then you can go back and get some more!
Can I be the first in line to buy one?

Randy - I plan on returning next year. I will go to the same spot and see if I can find one for you and I'll send it to you. These are gifts from nature, so there's no charge!

In 1834, a dam on the Potomac near Williamsport was completed and below the dam there is tons of rocks. That's where I found this stone. If I make it up there again, I'll try and find you something!

[tintin]

nice stone, what did you use to lap it?

[randydance062449]

Randy - I plan on returning next year. I will go to the same spot and see if I can find one for you and I'll send it to you. These are gifts from nature, so there's no charge!

In 1834, a dam on the Potomac near Williamsport was completed and below the dam there is tons of rocks. That's where I found this stone. If I make it up there again, I'll try and find you something!

That would be great!

[Johntoad57]

nice stone, what did you use to lap it?

I used 60 Grit sanding belts at first. I went through about 10 of these. Then I brought it up to 80 grit and used about 5 belts. At this point all of the high points were level. Then I proceeded to use 220 grit belts to semi polish the stone and make it smooth. Then I changed to liquid polishing compound from a rock tumbler. It was a heavy grit, then to a medium grit, and finally to a fine grit. I used a drill and polishing pad for this.

Needless to say, it took me all day long to get this thing to a decent point. Then I burnished it with the tip of a polished railroad spike for about an hour. The picture shows the end result. It works really well, and I'm delighted that I was able to get this done. I have been wanting to find something like this for a long time.

[tintin]

makes me wonder how many potential razor hones are out there in the wild waiting to be discovered. I am always looking at flea markets for interesting hones but no luck yet.

[thebigspendur]

Wow since 1834 this stone has been lying there at the dam and you picked up the lynchpin rock and now the dam is gonna fail taking out Washington DC.