Hone ID

[Proinsias]

Just picked this up on the bay, put in a max bid and didn't really think I'd get it. I did. Watchmaker, very fine and vintage got me interested. Hopefully it'll be here in a few days I can get a better idea but thought I'd ask in case anyone can identify it at a glance as I'm not very patient and this is my first ebay hone gamble, narrowly missed out on a lot from the same seller.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170569387418&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Sorta hoping it might be some sort of thuri, CF or Scottish stone but I really don't know much about them.

 

[Scotchhound1969]

My 'impression,' from the picture and the mention by the seller that the stone is, 'weighty;' is of an oilsoaked translucent Arkansas. Now, if the picture is representative of a 'clean,' stone, then some of your listed guesses are possible, imo.

Mac

 

[SliceOfLife]

Those dimensions (8x2x1) make me suspect a synth, but picture looks like a oily Arkansas or Washita.

 

[ADRSPACH]

I would also say oily Arkie.

 

[Proinsias]

Cheers guys. I was way off looks nothing like what I thought. Here's a few just arrived pics:

Tried to lap it with wet/dry tonight, was getting nowhere fast and ran out of low grit paper.

Is it best to use oil if it's an Arkansas? and does it still look like an Arkansas?

 

[DavyRay]

The experts should weigh in soon, but, it looks like a translucent Arkansas to me.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Trans ark or maybe Beryl? I see a hint of green but it could just be from oil residue or lighting.

Either way, awesome score. I'd love to snag a vintage trans ark that size for <$25.

I would definitely use that stone with oil. I wouldn't even bother trying it on water probably. It's clearly an oil stone.

 

[Proinsias]

Cheers, I'm pretty lazy and busy at the moment so I get the feeling it might be a while before I've got this lapped flat - it's a stubborn one.

Sorry for the never ending questions but what sort of oil would be best? the only oil stones I've used are rough ones for gardening tools.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Cheers, I'm pretty lazy and busy at the moment so I get the feeling it might be a while before I've got this lapped flat - it's a stubborn one.

Sorry for the never ending questions but what sort of oil would be best? the only oil stones I've used are rough ones for gardening tools.

The same you use for them should be fine. Honing oil is honing oil.

 

[Proinsias]

Over six months on, a lot of wet/dry has died and it's still not flat.

One day

 

[cj121]

Wow, that's been some rubbing! I bet you've almost developed RSI No wonder the guy sold it, lol.

I've had some very hard stones which I've got to work on with some cut-open sanding belts. In my experience, this approach can break the back of the job, and once 'flat' you can move onto the wet 'n' dry for a progression through to finish. Might be worth a try?

 

[Possum]

Have you tried lapping it with a diamond stone? Using coarse then fine should do it. To me it does not look like a Arkansas stone (could be the photo). Its old as they don't cut them that thick any more. So, it could be out of country and old. Possum

 

[Proinsias]

I don't have a diamond stone and I'd be little wary of buying one to lap this, concerned it would kill it.

The sanding belt sounds like it might be worth a shot, I've a long marble slab lying around to keep it company.

Arkansas or not after this much bloody work I want to see what it does to the edge of a razor.

 

[life2short1971]

You won't kill a DMT with that stone. You will however break it in quite nicely.

 

[danjared]

The DMT extra-extra course is the only one guaranteed by DMT to be usable for Arkansas stones. Having lapped a couple, I personally would not use anything but the DMT D8XX. You can follow it with a progression of sandpaper to smooth the surface.