Thread: Jade hones which I would like to see be made into scales

I posted a comment about G10 jade ghost scales wondering why not use real jade and made an offer to send my two unused jade hones to be cut into scales well if the upload worked this is what you would be working with.

first a little description, these two hones I bought last year they were supposed to be 4k/8k combo the white and green one and a 12k+ the solid one. frankly I don't like them they are just too hard and no feed back what so ever.

Hard stones are not bad because they are hard but softer stones are easier to use for beginners till they develop a light touch.
Are they smooth in use eg don't feel any of those visible inclusions ? Are they fast cutting ? or slow as a wet week? I've never used or even seen a jade hone. Interesting.

They may not work as scales as a certain amount of flexibility is desirable as the tapered tang works thru its range of travel & well, they are rocks

Oz, they are very slow cutters and no you don't feel the inclusions at all . very very smooth I think the added fact that I only use water and not oil which I think these are probably designed for doesn't help much.

About the flexibility ya I could see that being an issue. one member who works with stone asked me if he could play abit with them cut em down and keep a set of scales . sure why not have a try I wont use them for anything and I can always get more.

JADE?!

Wow...Where'd you get them? How much were they? I'm so intrigued. Who ever thought that Jade would make a hone?

One thing...I know it was just a passing comment, but remember--Natural hones are never, ever designed for anything. They aren't intended, not made, not anything else involving some kind of teleological plan. They are found, and tried. Oil stones are oil stones because lots of people have used them and said "Hey, these work pretty well with oil." The same with water stones.

You may as well forget the idea of making them into scales as they wouldn't work. I too am interested in where I could obtain one or two of those jade hones.

If it works I would like to see it. I don't know enough to say it will or won't work, but it would look interesting. I too would like to know where you got those as they look interesting.

I have worked with a material called true-stone or gem-stone made for pen turning, It's about 80 percent pulverized stone and the rest is a synthetic base I think its acrylic or a similar material. if it's more the look you are going for than it being real stone. it would be much more durable in this application than natural stone. Especially if put on a backer material. I have actually been interested in jade hones for a while and if you still have them might be interested in buying them from you. if you are interested PM me and we can talk more.
Here is a link to a site that has the Jade Gem-stone Gemstone Pen Blank-Imperial Jade, 7/8 x 7/8 x 5 1/2 [PBGem-ImperialJadeOS] - $11.99 : Arizona Silhouette inc. - Suppliers of Eye Candy, Proudly Offering Exceptional Products and Resources for the Wood Turner The thing to consider with this is wether it would be big enough for the scales you are looking to have made at 7/8 an inch by 5 1/2 it would have to be a smaller razor they where going on.

I'm seriously considering making a jade (nephrite) handled razor for my friend's birthday on 12/12/12. He's been growing a beard for years, the joke being that it will protect him from the Mayans. After the "end of the world, he won't need the beard anymore, so we're gonna shave it off. I think a jade handle will be fitting for the task.

I agree with the others that a traditional razor handle would not work well in something like jade. But who says we have to be traditional. There are plenty of ways to design a pivot that doesn't require flexible parts. Just look at almost any piece of machinery for examples. For my project I'm going to do away with moving parts all together, and make a fixed blade. This will allow for better control of the balance point and simpler construction.

Phillip

If you are interested pm me i can send you links for the chinese sites let me know what catches your fancy i can order it for you and get it sent . I don't and won't make any money off of it just act as a proxy.


In the absence of light don't pray for a miracle use night vision.

Now, I am chiming in. I have a Swede razor with each scale made from one piece of Mother of Pearl. ( Heljstrand MK-31 ) They do not flex! The inside line is absolutely straight and the razor is fitted to the scales with the correct taper to rest closed at 8mm high at the toe.


I have seen some hard scales which were ground on the inside to a slight curve to approach the look of a normal pair of scales. Ivory, composition and this bone plus horn and a few other materials will flex. Solid stone don't!
Yes the razor is somewhat loose in the pivot. But for a couple hunnert bucks, what do you expect?
added note, True Jade is an extremely tough material and will ring like a bell when struck; a really beautiful and lovely material. Difficult to carve and it will last for a long time. On razor??? Who drops a good blade? YES!
Respectfully
~Richard
Post Script. Now if the wedge was of a slightly compressible material, the scales could...be tightened onto two domed, thin spring washers, one on each side of the blade at the pivot. Look up Belleville washers/springs.