Thread: Can you confirm if this is a ToS

Originally Posted by adrspach

I agree with Scipio. It looks like Llyn Idwall. However the quarry is about 0.5 mile away from the lake.
Quality of the hone is simmilar to CF.

Stephan - thanks, I didn't know that - I thought the stone was found around the lake. And to think I was gona go there one day looking for them lol...I would have been looking in vain!

Piet - I reckon your tam is actually an ark. The test is if there is a slight degree of translucency on the surface, then it is not a tam. i.e. some of the spots appear slightly below the surface.

This is my ark, it is about 8-10k level and gives a respectable shave, but it certainly is not a tam.

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Originally Posted by Scipio

Stephan - thanks, I didn't know that - I thought the stone was found around the lake. And to think I was gona go there one day looking for them lol...I would have been looking in vain!

To the lake easy 20minutes hike from the car. To the quarry 1minute from the same car.
Why I say Llyn Idwall are those brown spots, svirling of black spots, colour. Also have a look if there is not anywhere like little translucent ish flake. Every time i was lapping one of those these crack lines/flakes kept appearing

Originally Posted by adrspach

Why I say Llyn Idwall are those brown spots, svirling of black spots, colour. Also have a look if there is not anywhere like little translucent ish flake.

Exactly - those orange/brown spots are not present in Tams. Couple that with any translucency and its more than likely an Idwal.

Scipio, I don't see a real difference between your Ark and your Llyn Idwal.

The stone I showed does have an orange spot and a smaller version I sold had a couple of them so it is the same stone as the one in the op. I think they are pretty hard but I don't remember them being particularly hard to lap though.

I still have my doubts because of Neil's posts, but if these stones can be found at Llyn Idwal then that's what they are, whether they've been rebranded by others or not.

If these are in fact Idwals then what is this mystery stone and the one I showed Neil has a couple of them at his website, they also have flaking going on, are incredibly hard and very fine.

Piet, there is a difference between my Idwall and the supposedly Arkansas, but it is hard to see in photographs. The Idwall is far finer and smoother, while the Ark has more dots in the surface, though also has a flaking to it.

Comparing them side by side, there is some difference, but again the photographs don't pick up what I can see visually. They contrast considerably in person..
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heres a few spoted arks

Originally Posted by eleblu05

heres a few spoted arks

Your one on the far right is most similar to the hone I have which I was told was an ark...would you say its an ark? It definitely not an Idwal or a Tam that I can tell you.

Looks to me like a variant of the orange spotted one, Scipio, similar swirl pattern. How does the back look like?