Thread: Cheap, generic stone. Any ideas?

Originally Posted by adrspach

Not every slate they used for backing can not be used for straights. First test and then decide. Mu gut feeling says that you have decent hone.

If the stone is 40 years old, than I am fairly positive that it will have a bbw backing, IF it is a coti. It looks like one, but I have seen some synth combination stones that looked deceivingly like cotis.

It does look like a Coticule. Most old Coti's were backed with BBW's. Yours is a tough call from the pics. Try wetting the blue side, and rubbing it with some wet sandpaper. If you get a purple slurry mixture, then it's a BBW for sure. Even just wetting it sometimes, you can see the stone is purple and spotted, rather than black....

The yellow side will also probduce slurry about the same color as the stone if it's a Coti.

Take a look at the second item in this on line catalogue: http://www.kirschen.de/_pdf/katalog2...lehrmittel.pdf

They sell 3 sizes, the number six is 115x60 mm. Would that be the size of your stone?

I have been told it is a natural sharpening stone, coarser than the coticule.

Originally Posted by jeness

Could be a coti, especially if it is 40 years old. Does the lighter side soak up water? If you scratch it with your fingernail, does it feel totally smooth, or does it feel rough, or has any low spots or anything?

The water test is my usual go to method. If I 'm still uncertain it's the 'tongue' . That one usually places it for me.

Originally Posted by Kees

Take a look at the second item in this on line catalogue: http://www.kirschen.de/_pdf/katalog2...lehrmittel.pdf

They sell 3 sizes, the number six is 115x60 mm. Would that be the size of your stone?

I have been told it is a natural sharpening stone, coarser than the coticule.

That's a great catalogue, Kees - thanks for posting it. I like that grinder with four wheels on it...!

There is an american version of the Two Cherries catalogue that has this on it:



Regards,
Neil

@Neil

you may like their German/English Catalogue. I quickly browsed thru it, it looks like it has even more items in it: http://www.kirschen.de/_pdf/katalog2...log_gesamt.pdf

Originally Posted by jeness

Could be a coti, especially if it is 40 years old. Does the lighter side soak up water? If you scratch it with your fingernail, does it feel totally smooth, or does it feel rough, or has any low spots or anything?

Yes, it soaks up water. When I wet the light side, the water disappears in 10-20 seconds, and I must then wet it again.
When I scratch it with my fingernail, it is very smooth - no roughness at all. No low spots on stone at all.
Thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by bruseth

Yes, it soaks up water. When I wet the light side, the water disappears in 10-20 seconds, and I must then wet it again.
When I scratch it with my fingernail, it is very smooth - no roughness at all. No low spots on stone at all.
Thanks for your help.

Than its a synth fine hone, glued to slate. I bought one like that too, thinking it is a coticule. Mine wasn't the best for straights, it was around 4-6k in fineness.

It fooled me well. But Coti does not drink.