timwcic
"Look what I found"
This project started like most of my acquisition, at the flea market. Finding a BBW at the market is not uncommon, but finding a 11 x 3, well that does not happen everyday. Now to put it to use, where am I going to find a unbonded Coticule of the same size. That will be tough at the market. I didn’t want it to gather dust so I did something I almost never do, went shopping on EBay. Searched around all the stuff and found this 11 x 2.75 inch mounted in a paddle. It appeared to be in rough shape but priced like prime beef. Luckily the seller agreed it had various issues and worked with me, accepting a price so if the whole protect went sideways, my pain would be minimal. Unpacked upon arrival and looking over this rock, thinking this doesn’t look to bad. Got it out of the paddle and discovered it is bonded to a purplish BBW. What looked to be cracked and out of alignment, was in much better condition than thought. All is solid and just needs a good cleaning and lapping. I does have a wallow that need to go. It would not need to be rebonded to the BBW at all. I think it was bonded with natural resin and was showing signs of a rough life. Filled in some voids on the side with epoxy. The manganese lines needed a drink of CA glue. Now the worst part, lapping. At the ends, 30 mm and 25 in the center. It took some work, it is uncommonly hard, but under all the funk is a Les Lat/hybrid beauty. Finished off at a 24 mm thickness. The surface under blade has a velvet smooth, low grit feedback. Definitely a razor quality finisher. Need to use more, but I will enjoy this stone. Now that it all done, I still have a large BBW to put to use
What I had to start with
What I had to start with