Thread: Norwegian slate

Today, Sten(str8fencer), Rune(Zephyr) and I went to what is supposed to be Northern Europe's biggest thrift market here in Oslo.
We were looking for the usual stuff, without any plan other than to walk around and keep our eyes open.
The only one capable of that it seemed was Rune, he spotted stuff all over after us old farts had passed the stand by with a less than keen eye
So, once we learned that, we started following in his steps for the rest of the day..

The weather wasn't all that nice, it was snowing and was a bit nippy to be honest.

Well, we found a few razors in decent knick, but that is another post from Rune or Sten.
What we also found was a slate hone, or rather a bunch of them.
At first Rune, the eagle-eyed, found one.
Then when we passed the same place a bit later, the one Rune bought had been replaced with a new similar one.
Hmmm, strange right?
So we asked the fella if had any more of them.
Sure, he said, a bucket full actually.
I bought one, and Sten a couple I think.

Now, to the point of this thread.
The seller told us the stones were from a place called Sande in the county of Vestfold here in Norway.

I have now tested it on 4 different razors, and with four different approaches.

1. A Filly EPBD already shave ready was given 40 laps with water only.
The resulting test was very pleasing, quite capable of a good shave.

2. Another of the same make was reset on a 1K Chosera, then honed with slurry for about 150 laps, then dilution to water. about 30 laps on water only.
This one delivered ok, but no more. I will have to test this much more before concluding.

3. A third of the same razor was honed up to a Norton 8K, then finished on the slate. Slurry with dilution. about 80 laps before diluting thru about 50, then 30 on water only.
This approach worked out fine. a fine shaving edge, not stellar, but fine.

4. A fourth of the same make was done exactly as number 3, only this one was finished on slurry, with just a little bit thinner mix at the end of the honing.
Same result as number three really, a tad more keenness to the edge perhaps.


I will have to do lots more testing with it before concluding on this rock, but I must say it was a very promising start.
Especially when I tell you that the price was about $3 per stone.

To think we left the seller with about 20 more at the same price is starting to annoy me just a little bit...

Her are some pictures of it, along with a few more rocks for comparison.

At the top is a Chosera 1K, then from the left:
A BBW backside, a Oozuku, A Y/G Escher and finally the Sande? slate.