Need help Identifying my stones.please.

[Bisch]

Hi All,
I am obviously a newbie. I have searched for hours for info on a couple stones I have. I do not know if they are usable to me or not...
My first stone is Grey in color, measures 12" X 3" X 1". It is marked on the end "A600LVG2". It appears to have very little use.
The second is a Norton Hard Arkansas Stone Jewelers Stone HB 26. The stone appears to be used only a couple times, if that.

 

[Mike H]

Welcome to B&B. That is a very nice vintage Hard Arkansas stone. It could be used as a intermediate stone for razors. I am not familiar with the other.

 

[Gamma]

The Norton HB26 is very likely a Translucent Arkansas. If I'm correct, it's one of the best finishing stones available.

They were often graded as 'Hard' but they were really Translucent.
I think the current HB26 is packaged as a Translucent now, it was not so long ago if I remember correctly.

I don't know what the other stone is.

 

[Bisch]

Thanks. It is definately translucent in color...light shines through it. I am baffled by what I have discovered the going rate to be...$600-800??? One supplier quotes the retail at $1130.00 Crazy. Maybe I should just sell it and purchase a proper set of hones...?? I have unearthed a trove of 8 or 9 stones that I am trying to identify as useful or not.

 

[Bisch]

This one measures 2 X 7-1/2 X 1 inch. Brown with dark speckles. It appears coarse, but, feels very smooth.

 

[Gamma]

Thanks. It is definately translucent in color...light shines through it. I am baffled by what I have discovered the going rate to be...$600-800??? One supplier quotes the retail at $1130.00 Crazy. Maybe I should just sell it and purchase a proper set of hones...?? I have unearthed a trove of 8 or 9 stones that I am trying to identify as useful or not.

You can find ridiculous prices on that stone, up to 2700-ish. The going rate is not that high to be honest. I don't know what those insane numbers are all about.

 

[memnochlv]

Remember, the listed price and the final selling price are two completely different things! List prices are a good reference, but really never so good as the sold price! I've personally known people who would list items repeatedly at high prices, only to re-list at a lower price, that is still higher than it was generally worth. This is nothing new, just a friendly reminder (=

You can find ridiculous prices on that stone, up to 2700-ish. The going rate is not that high to be honest. I don't know what those insane numbers are all about.

 

[Gamma]

In this case, I suspect the prices are listed that high because they're actually selling multiple stones in wholesale/bulk packs.

 

[RADisorder]

Where were all these you've dug up?

 

[PapaFish]

That brownish one looks similar to my Lily White Washita. Yours could be a Washita, but not necessarily a Lily White. I have seen sources say they are a 300-ish grit stone, and by the looks of mine, I believed this assessment. It wasn't until much later when I got a loupe and looked at the edge that was being produced that I realized I might be able to shave off the thing. Mine leaves about a 7K finish (not quite shaving comfortably). It cuts quite fast, and I have used mine to remove small chips. Yours might be able to be cleaned up if it is heavily oiled, which would lighten the color. This one paired with your Hard/Trans Ark would be capable of giving a very very nice finish.

I don't recognize the big one, but one way to find out would be to use it and see what it does. If it's a low grit stone, it may be useful for removing chips and/or setting bevels. Anything higher would just be gravy. It will only be useless for razors if it is below a 200 or 300 grit level and wants to micro chip your edge with every pass.

 

[Bisch]

Where were all these you've dug up?

There is a local old fellow that has an old shop...that sells old tools. I was just poking around and stumbled upon a whole bunch of stones covered in a ton of dirt and dust on the back of a nearly impossible to reach lower shelf. I literally had to lay on the floor to reach them. The stones were not labeled in any way, and I had no idea what they might be....so I bought all of them.

 

[Bisch]

That brownish one looks similar to my Lily White Washita. Yours could be a Washita, but not necessarily a Lily White.

Thanks Papa. I googled as many images as I could find on Washita stones...it sure looks like you are right. It took a few passes on glass with a sheet of 320 wet/dry. It gets lighter in color. It appears to be some real dark oil in it.

 

[PapaFish]

Yeah, these stones were typically (if not exclusively) used with oil, and not always cleaned up real well afterward. It likely needs a good lapping, and a good scrub with some soap and water.

Are you planning to use these stones?

 

[Bisch]

I want to give straight razor shaving a try, but, getting an edge may prove too frustrating for me. I have about had it with paying stupid prices for disposable cartridges. I will most likely end up getting a Norton combo instead of using these. Without knowing exactly what grit these are, and me being a novice, I am not confident I can use them.

 

[Bisch]

...or use them properly, I should say.

 

[Bisch]

I have a feeling old motor oil was used on it...smells like it.

 

[PapaFish]

I have a feeling old motor oil was used on it...smells like it.

Yeah, honing oils stink. I use mineral oil. It's odorless, colorless, completely safe, and it's cheap. A good lapping and a good scrub should help. Use plenty of soap, and scrub with an old toothbrush.

If you want to practice on something cheap, lapping films are popular. I have some that I don't use. With films or man made stones, the order of use and approximate results are known. With naturals or stones of questionable grit, it can be real difficult when first starting out. If you want help with these types of things, I am willing to help.

 

[RADisorder]

There is a local old fellow that has an old shop...that sells old tools. I was just poking around and stumbled upon a whole bunch of stones covered in a ton of dirt and dust on the back of a nearly impossible to reach lower shelf. I literally had to lay on the floor to reach them. The stones were not labeled in any way, and I had no idea what they might be....so I bought all of them.

Sounds like a great investment. I have zero experience honing, but am going to suggest something nonetheless. Don't sell off the stones right away, but have some patience to research and figure out what is what. That way, if you end up selling you'll get more of what they are worth. And, you never know, you might find some that work for you and you want to keep. It seems like these things mostly appreciate in value, especially the vintage stuff.

Double check with people that know more, but I'm guessing that lapping them as suggested by PapaFish, and cleaning them up won't hurt their value. This D8C seems to be the choice lapping stone and considered one of those lifetime investments no matter what hones you use.

Whatever you decide, wish me luck as I hope to stumble into an old hardware store and score a similar lot soon.

 

[Bisch]

Thanks for the info. I am slowly cleaning each one to see what it actually is. If I revealed what I paid for them, people might blow a gasket.....I got a reeeealy good deal. Good luck with your treasure hunt!

 

[Bisch]

Okay, I feel like a little boy that got a new bike....I gotta tell you.
I picked up 10 stones, an antique post & beam hand auger, a sickle, a vintage wooden Sandusky jack plane, and an old ratcheting hand brace....all for $10.00! The Norton HB 26 Arkansas stone.....cost me 38 cents! At the time, I had no idea what I was buying....it just seemed like a fair price to me.