Microtome Hone

I got the chance at work today to have a look round a lab that is being cleared out and it seems they used to do some microtome work in there. I found this in one of the drawers of junk and it got me thinking. Not having attempted honing yet (still getting to grips with shaving) is it worth hanging on to, are there any fundamental differences between a hone used on a microtome blade and those used on razors.

I also found a few boxed up microtome blades that I am finding it hard to leave to be thrown out.

Keep that one. It looks like a coticule from here, lots of it too.

I"m certain someone on this site can help you identify your hone, I would definetly hang on to it!!
IMHO that is.

Have a great shave while your at it!!

I does look to be a Coticule...(From the Pics)

There is no difference in the hones used for Microtomes,,, only in how they were used because of the use difference

A microtome is designed as a cutting tool it is used to slice tissue, they can get extremely sharp but will be harsh, as they are only sharpened from one side then a draw stroke to finish

To use them as a shaver you have to adjust to be able to smooth up the edge, the is easiest way to do that is by applying electrical tape to the spine, so you can hone it more like a Japanese Kamisori that uses a asymetrical grind... The back side of a Microtome is a true flat so you have to overcome that to get a smooth shaving edge...

I also feel it is a Coti. A nice big one as well. Great score! I use a Microtome strop exclusively for my razors!

I should probably have put something in the photo for scale, the actual stone is about 9" long and about 2.5 wide.

I will take a look tomorrow and see if there are any other stones or anything resembling a strop in there.

I hope it is a coticule but can you take more pics of the sides? It could also be an india oil stone from the one side view.

Here's BIG AO microtome. THe round piece slides over the spine and is a bevel guide for this particular style
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...me011small.jpg

http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...me002small.jpg

The blade is 120MM long
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/u...me004small.jpg

Hang on to that hone!!! :)

I have one almost like it but it's a Pike India oil hone, just a resemblance I suppose.

An India stone is reddish brown. Pretty common in old wooden boxes. Very nice for upper grits and great for knives. Certainly what this is is a Coticule.
If only I had one!

I agree, looks like a really nice coticule!

I'd almost bet my paycheck that it's a coti.... and a huge looking one at that! nice find!

Nice stone!

A very valuable find!


Michael

Just got home and tried for a couple more photos. Not too sure what you look for in photos of a stone though.


Attachment 95659Attachment 95660Attachment 95661


Thanks for all the replies to this one, its fascinating finding out what I have turned up.

100% indeed nice coticule !

Well sadly there were no other stones in there and no sign of a strop, there are a lot of blades though.

Attachment 95738

Not being a man that needs much convincing to become obsessed with things I am taking this hone as a sign that I should begin research on here into honing, how bad an idea can it possibly be if it means I have an excuse to get a couple more razors, even if they are junk ones to practice on.

Stones a great find,The blades are used for doing frozen sections,would keep them if you can,Is good steel for maybe some project.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Stones a great find,The blades are used for doing frozen sections,would keep them if you can,Is good steel for maybe some project.

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These are in a lab that was sectioning botanical specimens embedded in wax, I was surprised to find them as there was no microtome in there, just a whole heap of accessories.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by womblezombie

These are in a lab that was sectioning botanical specimens embedded in wax, I was surprised to find them as there was no microtome in there, just a whole heap of accessories.

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Same exact machine,same process as as doing frozen sections in a pathology lab,freeze them (same as using wax)
slice then,dye them, put them under the scope,Differant animal is all.

I'm going to agree with the Coti assessment, along with the notation... Even if it were to be an artificial "modern" stone, if it were in use as a microtome hone, it would STILL be of very high quality, and useful in the wide realm of Straight Shaving!