Thread: Help with stone ID.

I've passed this hone up several times at the antique store thinking that it would be way too course for razors. Finally decided today to pick it up, just for the hell of it. It is 5"x1.25"x.5". It's light grey in color when dry and a greenish grey when wet(despite the brown color it looks in the picture). It lapped easily and the slurry was a whitish-grey color. It looks course but is very smooth, almost glassy to the touch. Very sparkly even though it doesn't show either. I ran a razor over it for 20 strokes and it seems to have improved on my 6k. It also smells like mud if that's any help. Any ideas? BTW, sorry for the not great pics.

I swear that looks like sandstone, my friend...we have a bunch up here by the lake, and quarries all around my house, but I don't know if they were ever used for hones.

Originally Posted by JoeSomebody

I swear that looks like sandstone, my friend...we have a bunch up here by the lake, and quarries all around my house, but I don't know if they were ever used for hones.

I thought it was sandstone at first too, but it is really finer than any sandstone I have seen.

I have seen some pretty fine sandstone. But, the main question is, does it work?

Originally Posted by JoeSomebody

I have seen some pretty fine sandstone. But, the main question is, does it work?

If I hadn't already shaved today I'd test it out. Like I said it looked like it cleaned up the 6k pretty well.

I'm beginning to think that it might be sandstone again. I've been doing some reading on sandstones and didn't realize that there are some extra-fine types out there. All of the sandstones that I had personally seen before(mostly brown or red sandstones) were really course and only good for knives.

Just shaved with the razor that I used on this hone and I've got to say that it wasn't bad. A close, comfortable shave. Don't get me wrong, it is not nearly as good as a razor finished on my PHIG or translucent, but it was good. My guess is that it falls somewhere between 6k and 8k, probably closer to 8k. Now to test a couple more just to make sure.