Thread: Can anyone ID this hone?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Some better photos might help, probably a hard ark or synthetic.

Back in the day surgical instruments were honed on Arks, probably were the term Surgical Black Ark came from.

From BEST Sharpening Stones website. Arkansas Black Surgical Sharpening Stone

"The Black Arkansas stone was traditionally used to sharpen dental tools and scalpels. The Black Arkansas stone will put a razor sharp edge on all knives and tools."

Just as a note of interest: Hard Black Arkansas Hones Are Still Used World Wide For Touching Up Dental Tools/Even Today!

I know this as a Fact as I helped a young man in India acquire one for touching up his Dental Tools. (That young man is now an Oral Surgeon) I also asked my personal Dental Hygienist what she used to keep her tools sharp and she said that while some like the translucent Arks she preferred the Hard Black.

As I said; Just a point of interest

Sounds more like a synthetic, but looks like it could be a Lilly White Ark.

Simple Green soaking cleans natural stones well, just soak in Simple Green and water and swarf and oil will come to the surface, then scrub with stiff brush, dish soap and water. Keep soaking until it stops releasing oil.

If it is synthetic, some soaps can damage stones.

I don't think it's a hone, wrong dimensions.

6x7x1/4 white material fine grade.

Jewellery soldering/brazing pad would be my guess. It's not thick enough for brass brazing, and the material looks fine enough to make the swarf recyclable.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jewelry+soldering+pad&source=lnms&tbm=isc h&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju-9r_qLfKAhVGbxQKHS6HAFsQ_AUICCgC&biw=1779&bih=892

http://picclick.com/SOLDERING-BOARD-...589220251.html

Originally Posted by Iceni

I don't think it's a hone, wrong dimensions.

6x7x1/4 white material fine grade.

Jewellery soldering/brazing pad would be my guess. It's not thick enough for brass brazing, and the material looks fine enough to make the swarf recyclable.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=jewelry+soldering+pad&source=lnms&tbm=isc h&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju-9r_qLfKAhVGbxQKHS6HAFsQ_AUICCgC&biw=1779&bih=892

http://picclick.com/SOLDERING-BOARD-...589220251.html

Thanks so much Iceni! It looks exactly like the pictures you attached.

I think that's it!

If it weren't for the fact that it kind of decomposes as I hone on it, this thing would actually be decent for kitchen knives.

Glad it looks about right.

I wouldn't worry about picking up the odd duff. It's part of the game. You see a bargain on ebay with poor pictures and take a gamble in a lot of cases, Especially when you are looking at natural stones. The odd old synthetic will appear through the post and you chalk it up to experience.