Thread: Yellow lake oilstone

Originally Posted by adrspach

And also add to it that it was recognised and named on straight razor user forums.

In which case its only fair that it be called the 'swedish tam'...

And what about Knivsmed Gröna TOS?

Originally Posted by adrspach

And what about Knivsmed Gröna TOS?

Now, Now - we both know that particular stone has never been seen and the only description of it is in one of the manuscripts of icelandic alchemist Arne Saknussemm!

I think you are confusing this stone from Sweden with similar stone from Greenland which, according to translations of ancient parchments, is reputed to be used by cutlers, in a forest while wearing specs (with a blue tint).

Originally Posted by Jeltz

I think you are confusing this stone from Sweden with similar stone from Greenland which, according to translations of ancient parchments, is reputed to be used by cutlers, in a forest while wearing specs (with a blue tint).

You may well have hit on something here, Nic! Given that the first definitive report of the CGS was in a written paper submitted to the Geological Society, how are we to be sure that the author did not have a version of the most common form of colour blindness? That would be the red/green form. So the stone may have had red blotches in it rather than green. It could have had an overall pink colour rather than a green colour.

Furthermore, he could have had a form of dyslexia, and was describing a red stone used by butlers - possibly a purple slate - to sharpen kitchen knives on.

The plot thickens....

I would add another possible explanation and that is snow blindness which would explain those blotches and stains od darkh perhaps blue colour.

Today I found time and went to the postal office for the yellow lake I bought with the salmen sticker. It turns out, it's not a sticker but a stamp, and, the stone is not Yellow lake. Not one from the variations I know at least. It's black, pitch-black colored, and the slurry on the stone looks grey, on any lighter colored surface looks black. I intended to upload photos, but the camera has some problems.. It is very fine. Unfortunately, I shaved last night, so, i can't test it today. eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace that's the stone. It's not too soft nor hard, slate like. My description doesn't really help, and the photos from ebay are not the best, but, if anyone has any idea what could it be, I would like to hear them. Or it could be a Yellow lake I didn't know.

Originally Posted by Vasilis

Today I found time and went to the postal office for the yellow lake I bought with the salmen sticker. It turns out, it's not a sticker but a stamp, and, the stone is not Yellow lake. Not one from the variations I know at least. It's black, pitch-black colored, and the slurry on the stone looks grey, on any lighter colored surface looks black. I intended to upload photos, but the camera has some problems.. It is very fine. Unfortunately, I shaved last night, so, i can't test it today. eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace that's the stone. It's not too soft nor hard, slate like. My description doesn't really help, and the photos from ebay are not the best, but, if anyone has any idea what could it be, I would like to hear them. Or it could be a Yellow lake I didn't know.

I have several like that Vasilis (very dark type) - they are good finishers, on a par with a lower grade thuringian. It is hard to tell them from the darker grey, more abrasive ones in pictures though, especially when they are both saturated with oil. I don't really use the other dark grey type, especially if the surface is glittery as they seem to have scratchy inclusions which makes them behave more like a mid-grit range hone than a polisher.

It is hard to look on 'Yellow Lake' as anything other than a brand, especially if it is an A B Salmen hone - as we have discussed before, despite Salmen owning the original Yellow Lake (Llyn Melynllyn) quarry, they used other stones from their own quarries and from other suppliers, all boxed in Yellow Lake boxes.

Regards,
Neil

I have to confirm what Neil said. YL is only brand and not the product quarried in YL quarry as the stone from there is completely different in appearance, it is not a slate.

Got this Stone Yesterday, lapped it and took a slurry stone from one side just because of a lil damage the stone had there.
Ive tested it with a R.Wenborn of Oxford Extra Hollo Ground and tried to compare the Feeling while Honing & Shaving with my old Thuringian and the Celebrated Water Razor Hone i had.
The Yellowlake Brand i have is much faster and more biting, the Hair Test was possible along the whole edge after around 30 Strokes, the Edge had a dull polish not far away from what i know from my Thuringian. Shaving with the Razor was more aggressive than usually when i use the Thuringian but also clean and lasting.