Thread: UK Black slate hone

Salmen's oilstone aka Yellow Lake.

Originally Posted by adrspach

Salmen's oilstone aka Yellow Lake.

Until a couple of years ago, "yellow lake stone" was the one with the red paper wrap. Today, it's the AJ's purple stone only.
But we do know that authentic yellow lake stones are at least three different types of stones/slates, probably from different places. I didn't have the opportunity to try all three of them, but the Salmen stones did have something to do with the Yellow lake stones, adrspach is right.

I do have all three of them. Yellow Lake is only brand. in this size they were sold in red and blue packaging. I have also seen Salmen's Oilstone (genuine hone) which was made out of carborundum and packaging was talking about it being successor of the YL.
Unfortunately someone wanted it more than me. I just hope that someone is from here and it will not finish in scrap.

@adrspach:
Are these sawmarks helpful to identify a Salmens oilstone ?

What are the ones beeing sold as Yellow Lake / Llyn Melynllyn from AJ as written from Vasillis ? Seems to be another kind of material, or are these probably the ones sold by Inigo Jones as a red Dragons Tongue ?

I have to say they are not. What is more helpful is the odd size and characteristic edging. Of course the edging would be hard to address after the stone was re lapped and edges re done.
In my personal opinion AJ sources his material from a slag heap of Penrhyn quarry. But that is only my educated guess.
Unfortunately he misuses well known names for his own production. On his defense since he started his business he learned a lot about hones and from reviews here they are apparently decent and do the job but his misuse of known names confuses knowledge about those well known hones.

Thanks for this....