Thread: Help id this natural hone!

Thank you Neil. Those who were at first London Razorcon could see a piece of grey slate which I have from I.J. This piece shows not exact but very simmilar pattern as Neil's picture. I have intention to cut it to manageable size and test it as hone. Shame that I am useless with camera but hopefully I will find the way how to show it.

Originally Posted by eleblu05

i cant be certain either about the small purple stone i have. i thought it was a yellow lake stone but looking over some pics i have of yellow lake stones. all the purple ones are of a darker purple. the color of my stone looks to be more inline with the vosgiennes but i never handle another vosgiennes stone before also the yellow lake stone comes in around 8k the vosgiennes is around the fineness of a YG escher i think modine posted a thread about his vosgiennes and it had green dots. as for my stone i still leaning towards a yellow lake stone

Well i was almost sold that my stone is a yellow lake but i must say that im possitive that its much finer then 8 k without a doubt.
its finer then my Phig wich is suppose to be 12 k, so its back to square one as far as this stone.........

Originally Posted by Martin103

its finer then my Phig wich is suppose to be 12k

The reason that we call the Chinese natural 'PHIG' and not 'C12K' is that 'People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit' is preferred. It is believed that while few may equate to a 12K polish, many do not and samples can be as coarse as an 8K polish and more often circa 10K. This is what I understand from my reading and those who are familiar with several samples of said hone, do feel free to correct me as I have never even touched one.

My point is that I would be surprised if yours gives a 12K polish on the basis that few are alleged to.

The worst case scenario is that you have a coarse PHIG of 8k polish and this unknown stone could be a fine Yellow Lake that happens to surpass it.

Well thats not the case since i have a norton 8k and the PHIG is much finer then the Norton for sure.

Originally Posted by Scipio

The reason that we call the Chinese natural 'PHIG' and not 'C12K' is that 'People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit' is preferred. It is believed that while few may equate to a 12K polish, many do not and samples can be as coarse as an 8K polish and more often circa 10K. This is what I understand from my reading and those who are familiar with several samples of said hone, do feel free to correct me as I have never even touched one.

My point is that I would be surprised if yours gives a 12K polish on the basis that few are alleged to.

The worst case scenario is that you have a coarse PHIG of 8k polish and this unknown stone could be a fine Yellow Lake that happens to surpass it.

Originally Posted by Martin103

Well thats not the case since i have a norton 8k and the PHIG is much finer then the Norton for sure.

How much finer? Note that fineness is not proportional, ie. a 4k is not four times as fine as a 1k.

By touch, feeling the 8k, then Phig then new hone, the phig and new hone are very very close and the 8k is definately coarser.

Originally Posted by Scipio

How much finer? Note that fineness is not proportional, ie. a 4k is not four times as fine as a 1k.

That may be because once you go over 8K, touch alone can not distinguish fineness.

So once again i tested another razor did 25 x strokes on PHIG and looked under 30x loupe then did 25 x strokes on new hone,
and once again the new hone removed the PHIG scratch patern...

Originally Posted by Scipio

That may be because once you go over 8K, touch alone can not distinguish fineness.

I have a very similar stone but without the green inclusions. Purple/brown colour, soft - scratches easily from honing with a razor.

It's also quite big - about 9 x 2.3 inches.

Bought in the UK and improves the scratch pattern to a smooth, near mirror polish using water and little/no pressure. 40x magnification you can see fine scratches but the edge is quite refined - I can tell it will give a smooth shave.

Will post pics tonight.

Sounds very familiar would very much like to see some pics Thanks

Originally Posted by wai

I have a very similar stone but without the green inclusions. Purple/brown colour, soft - scratches easily from honing with a razor.

It's also quite big - about 9 x 2.3 inches.

Bought in the UK and improves the scratch pattern to a smooth, near mirror polish using water and little/no pressure. 40x magnification you can see fine scratches but the edge is quite refined - I can tell it will give a smooth shave.

Will post pics tonight.