Another mystery hone thread.

[Theseus]

Just picked this stone up today. The thing was completely covered in thick black goo(still has some oil in it).It is 7"x2". Got it lapped and it turned out to be a light grey hone. Lapped very easily and is rather soft. Slurries easily as well. I'm guessing that the slurry is whitish but it is hard to tell with oil still being in the stone. It's also very smooth. Any guesses?

[Martin103]

Still looks very dirty on the last pic but looking at the first pic it kinda looks like a hindostan stone if you clean the sides of it do you see any banding or layering?

[Theseus]

Still looks very dirty on the last pic but looking at the first pic it kinda looks like a hindostan stone if you clean the sides of it do you see any banding or layering?

Yeah, it is still quite dirty and pretty well soaked through in areas with oil. I'll have to check the sides. Are Hindostans easier to lap than Arkies? I know they are both novaculite.

[Jimbo7]

Mine was easier to lap than the average Arkansas. I'd place it between a Thuringian and an Arkansas as far as lapability goes.

Try putting it in the oven on "warm" for an hour or so and see if the oil flows out of it. My Hindostan is a pretty thirsty stone. Also, I think the most diagnostic feature of Hindostans seems to be the narrow layering. If that's present on any of the faces then I'd say a Hindostan is what you have.

[Theseus]

Just did a quick lapping on one of the sides and I can barely see some layering. Once I get the time to clean it thoroughly, I will post better pics(or at least the best pics I can take with my pos camera).

[Martin103]

Yeah, it is still quite dirty and pretty well soaked through in areas with oil. I'll have to check the sides. Are Hindostans easier to lap than Arkies? I know they are both novaculite.

If you cant use the oven, you can put it in a pan and boiled it for like 15 minutes that really worked for me i had the pleasure to clean two hindostan and both started as black as night! Enjoy!

[Theseus]

Just a bit of an update. I soaked the stone overnight in some simple green degreaser, which cleaned it up nicely. There is clear banding present on the side. I'm at work right now but later I'll post a pic of the side. I also shaved with a razor finished on the stone. Most definitely a finisher. Gave a wonderfully sharp and smooth edge to a hard steeled American razor.

[Martin103]

Well now you know for sure you have a Hindostan, and a fine finisher as well! Great!

[adrspach]

Show clean pics for confirmation, but it already looks like you have answer.

[Theseus]

A pic of the side, as promised.