Thread: Frictionites - other than #00s

I've got a friend who stashed away frictionites in the 1970s when he was on a tear trying everything he could find to get the ultimate woodworking stone (apparently, HAD isn't a new thing - he settled on spydercos back then as the best stone for woodworking). *I don't want any gauge on value*, I just want to know if the numbers correspond to stones suitable for finishing razors so I can list them properly. Figure that he probably purchased these stones in 1970 give or take, and he mentioned that he called and talked to someone at AM hone in moravia back then. He used one of them, and the rest he never used, and he said he thinks he has rub stones for them (which would suggest they're razor finishers). The only one of these he used was a #821.

He's got one or two? #00s still in factory baggies unused (I know they're good for razors, nobody needs to comment on those), and then he says he's got:
* an 825 (i think very large, like 8x3)
* an 821 (also, I think very large)

and another non frictionite stone that is labeled "super punjab"

I could certainly figure out pretty easily how fine these stones are by using them, but since most of them are unused, I don't want to do that.

He commented that the large ones were intended for razor manufacturers, perhaps someone at AM hone told him that.

Just to be clear, I don't stand to make a nickel on any of these stones and I'm not selling them here no matter what, nor will I make mention of them if he decides he wants to unload all of them, they're his stones and it's his business. He is not a shaver, so he's got no use for them.

My only request is to find out whether they're finishers or prefinishers so i can tell him what he's got and give him advice on what to do with it.

Just a note on the rubstones--they're not for raising slurry, they're for deglazing the surface if you've been using it dry.

Thanks, i didn't know that about the rub stones. Sounds like I should get one for the spyderco so I don't have to rough it all the way back to a fresh (and brash) surface.

pic's we need pic's !!!

I'll post pictures at some point, after they've sold (which could be a while). I'm kind of giddy just to see them and handle them, even though I can't use them or sensibly justify buying any of them from him.

He called to mention that he dug up a coticule that says "deep rock" on it that still has the label on the stone, too. I've never seen one, but it is probably also from the 1970s and not a really vintage antique stone.

He also said that he's got a round razor stone that has a handle on it, which sounds bizarre, but it's also an american hone product. No clue on that.

There's a picture of that round American hone elsewhere in this forum. Here's the original post, with pictures.

I don't know if the American hone rubstones would work on your Spyderco. You must use your Spyderco a lot for it to load up that much.

I've been using Smith's Honing Oil to condition and hone on a Charnley, and find it's a good solvent for wiping a swarf glaze off a hone. It's pretty easy stuff to find; it's usually next to any display of Arkansas hones.

Well, i'm not going to get a chance to try out the rub stones. They're also NOS. All of that's OK, just seeing the stuff will be neat. I suppose I could try the one used hone before I unload them, but what if I liked it? Plus I'd have to clean it. I certainly don't want to pay what they cost, though it sounds like the punjab hone isn't in perfect shape and I may get to keep it.

I have been using a hard nagura to clean my spyderco stone, but all that does is remove swarf, it doesn't do anything to condition the abrasive on the spyderco since there's such a disparity in abrasive hardness. I do like the way the spyderco works as a super ultimate finisher if you let it get completely shined and glossy on the surface (not dirty, just worn smooth).

A little off topic, but I use my Spyderco and Charnley to condition one another, with a couple of spritzes of 0.5u diamond between.

I have no problem with off topic. That sounds like a good idea. I've been adding 0.25 diamond and 0.5 diamond to the spyderco from time to time because it's such a good substrate for that kind of thing to begin with. Does the diamond stick in the charnley? I guess it's fine enough that you wouldn't notice if it did or if it didn't.

I don't think the diamond sticks to the Charnley. After that step I work it over with the back of a DMT plate, then a couple of rinses and wipes with the Smith's honing solution.

I put CrOx on my Spyderco and finished a Genco and Case Red Imp on it; the results were stellar. Don't know if I could have done that treatment on lesser steel.