Thread: Stone ID

The stone is a medium gray (the speckles are a lighter gray) and there are no inclusions.

Christopher

My belgium blue stone has speckles. But with that crack looking like it does it looks like a slate and not like the BBW. The slurry looks just like my purple slate hone. Take a look at this thread: Purple slate

Well, this is definitely not a BBW, so that is easily ruled out. And this stone/slurry is not purple, simply gray (white dry). I'm stumped.

Christopher

I agree it is not a BBW. I have seen this stone somewhere, but I'm not sure where. Maybe in my drawer with the rest of them . The color of the slurry and the speckles means its not thuringian. It should be a good hone, that's what matters the most.

Originally Posted by 111Nathaniel

But with that crack looking like it does...

Yes, the crack is unfortunate, as it goes straight thru the middle almost 3/4 the length of the stone. The good news is that I'm thinking of taking it to a stone-cutter and having them slice thru the crack and make it TWO stones. =) I'm thinking of then mounting them to hardwood bases, keeping one and donating the other to SRP.

It's a pretty stone, and a big one too at around 11" x 2-3/4" x 1-1/2", so I'm happy to add it to my little collection. (Of course, the mounted stone would only be about 1/2" thick.)

Thanx,
Christopher

Nooooo! I don't like people cutting stones for any reason, even if its for donation. keep it whole. If it brakes, that's another matter. But hones are sacred! Don't desecrate them!

vasilis: i understand your sentiment,and to a degree i agree. coticules for example... its easy to get a small coticule, not so easy to get a large coticule, so dont cut down a large coticule..
PHIGS on the other hand, split em down so you can hand hone if thats what you like, or to make smaller/more narrow travel stones.
the size of some of those PHIG bricks is more then what is needed.
this stone, i dont know.
remember, they were cut to make one in the first place, another cut and you have two. its not desecration when the hone is so thick that you will never wear it out.. otherwise i guess one thick hone will actually outlast two thin hones (that break)
i was much happier with my half thickness PHIG, plus i got two more hones and three more slurry stones.

if you still disagree i wont argue with you.. you cant uncut a hone, so...

For the PHIGs, they are cheap and "abundant" hones, I have also cut many pieces, but for a rare stone, that it's most likely not to be quarried anymore, I don't find it a good idea. It's like some people who cut their charnleys or eschers to sell them for a better price. I don't put anyone of us in the same category with them, but, it's a rare stone.

Christopher-I am reviving this old thread in the hopes that maybe some new eyes will see it (or old eyes see it afresh), and give some ideas on this incredible stone.

Folks, Christopher/CJBianco stopped by my house yesterday to troubleshoot a honing issue I was having with a Frederick Reynolds. Long story short, after quickly taming my frustrating FR on his Naniwas, my new SRP friend graciously left me the airport runway of a stone pictured above.

And what a stone it is! Very soft and fine-I grid-lapped it with an old, fine grade Smith diamond hone, and that nearly worn-out diamond plate ate up the grids almost instantly, leaving a shiny surface with that curious mottling. To my nose, it smells of earthy gym socks, if that makes any sense...

Since Christopher hadn't really messed with it, and I didn't have any razors to work on (all shave-ready for a change, and I just can't see bread-knifing my working razors for an experiment), I got out a bunch of knives, some with VERY hard steel, like my old convex-ground Air Force knife, and a big 420HC Buck hunting knife, both a bear to hone normally, along with my Case Shark tooth, and went to work to see how it would do as a one-stone knife hone. The stone almost instantly produced a thick purple/gray/black mud with that old diamond hone, and I started on this with a combination of Japanese-style back and forths, circles, and loooong x-strokes-11 inches of luxury, great for big hunting knives! Going through a few dilutions, I finally rinsed everything to finish on plain water, and wow, this thing produces murderous, scary-sharp, somewhat toothy edges (which I like on a knife), as fine as any I've ever gotten, especially on those honing hardcases!

Now that I have no hair left on my legs, I am really intrigued by this stone. You could almost shave with one of my knives now! Any ideas this time around? When I need to work on a razor again, I'll re-resurrect this thread, and report the results. Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Aaron/SHD