Flea Market Hone

Found this at a local flea market a few weeks ago and got around to cleaning it up. I could make out the "2-Medium India" found on one end but the stone ws coated in some kind of gunk. Thought that a little time on the dmt would brush off the grime but only wound up gunking up the dmt. While talking on the chat, someone mentioned using kersone, which I didn't have, but that got me thinking and, long story short (I know, too late :p), a little 'Lectra Clean wiped the gunk right off. Fortunately, the face with the logo and stamping were still intact.

This turned out to be a Pike India Oil Stone, approximately 2" x 6". I'll be trying it out soon to see where it will fit in the honing process. Feels a little harder than my barber's hone so maybe it'll be a decent finisher.

So, without further ado ..... the mandatory pics!

Original Condition, Edge, After DMT, DMT After Lapping, After 'Lectra Clean

Man that thing messed up your DMT like a champ lol!! :) Which is ok really, if it'll hone up a blade like a champ!

I used a 2x6 sized hone for quite a while, it's a functional size.

Can't wait to hear how it worked out for you.

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Man that thing messed up your DMT like a champ lol!!

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That's OK. A little 'Lectra Clean fixed her right up! I'll let you know how it goes.

Those India oil stones are great hones for tools and knives. They are too coarse for razors, other than to hone chips out.

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Originally Posted by Theseus

Those India oil stones are great hones for tools and knives. They are too coarse for razors, other than to hone chips out.

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Awe that sucks! Hey I wonder if putting on the vaseline would smooth out a courser stone and make it razor friendly?

If nothing else, then, I got something the K-Bar will love!

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Originally Posted by Theseus

Those India oil stones are great hones for tools and knives. They are too coarse for razors, other than to hone chips out.

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+1

It appears to be a Norton India MB6. The grit size is 53.5 microns, putting it at about 250 ish grit (between a 240 & 280 grit), slightly smoother than a Norton 220 water stone. Very rough stone, unless the edge on your Ka bar is shot, I would not even use it on the Ka Bar. This is a good stone, but one that I refer to as a field stone. it's made to strip steel fast, hatchets, some axes. That "gunk" is is some type of a petroleum substance that is impregnated in the aluminum oxide abrasive when the stone is made. It is not supposed to come off. It actually helps in honing, as to lubricate and keeps the majority of the metal shavings from clogging the stone's pores.
Just my thoughts.

Here she is after a little more cleaning and lapping.

Attachment 106233

Attachment 106234

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I have used mine to set a bevel before. Works really fast for that, but it requires VERY careful use. Someone new to honing should stay away from a stone that coarse. You could damage a blade real quick with it. I contacted the Norton Co that made mine and they said it is about 350 grit. For a razor that needs a lot of work, it gets the job done really fast. and it will do a good job of removing nicks if you are careful . I'll tell you one thing, it is the hardest hone I have ever seen in my life.

I have a couple practice razors with some significant chips. This might be just the thing for 'em. I'll get a chance to check it out here in a couple days.

I can't see if it's a medium or fine india. A medium india will take care of chips in a hurry as long as the surface is fresh. It's just a vitrified stone with a type of aluminum oxide abrasive in it, just like a modern hard stone.

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Originally Posted by Theseus

Those India oil stones are great hones for tools and knives. They are too coarse for razors, other than to hone chips out.

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+1 have one. It's a agree that it's a little too ruff to use on a razor.

It's a medium India. I still haven't had a chance yet to try it with anything. Thanks for all the advice and info!