Unusual Natural Hones

Discussion in 'Straight Razors' started by DaltonGang, Jan 11, 2019.

  1. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I've seen a seller, on ebay, selling "Natural Ceramic", and "Jasper" hones. One is rated at around 20k. Anyone seen or used any of these?

    It would also be fun to see other unusual stones you guys have used to sharpen your "Razors".
     
  2. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Natural Ceramic.
    Seller says 20k finish.

    s-l1600.jpg
     
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  3. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Green and Black Jade
    Says it's a fast cutter

    s-l1600.jpg
     
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  4. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Jasper. Extra Fine.
    There are several.

    s-l1600.jpg

    s-l1600.jpg
     
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  5. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Like I said, they look interesting, and I know nothing about them.
     
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  6. TestDepth

    TestDepth Well-Known Member

    I saw those also... somewhat intriguing. Another one of those purchases that my wife would just shake her head about. :rolleyes005:
     
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  7. gssixgun

    gssixgun At this point in time...

    Supporting Vendor
    Jasper has been around for honing for many years, more for tools was rather popular for engraving tools from my reading

    There was some interest in trying them sometime around 09-10 on SRP the threads are still there to read, the results as I remember them were Meh

    Anytime a seller starts putting grit ratings on Natural stones my radar gets a blip, when they start saying 20k I start LMAO


    JMHO and a weeeee bit of experience
     
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  8. Steve56

    Steve56 Hone Hoarder

    Jasper/petrified wood were used in the Panama Barber hones I believe, though maybe not every single one. I always wanted to try one and always keep missing.

    Cheers, Steve
     
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  9. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Well, @gssixgun , you've used about every hone out there, have you run into any of the ones I've listed??
     
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  10. joamo

    joamo Well-Known Member

    My first "finisher" was an Owyhee jasper 3/16 slab that took forever to lap out the saw marks. It cost me about 8 dollars delivered. I've tried petrified wood, petrified palm, agatized coral a few different jaspers, clouded chalcedony and a few others, all with varying degrees of success. The coral, shown below, was the only toxic one and left errant gouges in the steel. If it had a consistent, closer, stria I would call it a bevel setter.

    These were all experiments, albeit mostly experiments that taught me how to lap very hard stones. Some good with water but all better with oil, the biggest complaint would be they are slow. I don't mind that as I don't hone as a service to others.

    Below left rear: Owyhee jasper, right rear: agatized coral
    Front left: My first found and cut stone, Sioux Quartzite, middle: my latest Sioux Quartzite and right: green quartzite from the same seller referred to in the op.
    I'm a fan of the quartzites.


    [​IMG]
     
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  11. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers


    NICE COLLECTION.
     
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  12. Steve56

    Steve56 Hone Hoarder

    Yes, very nice indeed!

    Cheers, Steve
     
  13. gssixgun

    gssixgun At this point in time...

    Supporting Vendor
    I got to try one of the Petrified Wood ones at one of the Denver Meet, after a few laps I moved to a different finisher, You have to understand that Surface Prep on these is essential, the better you do that the better the results will be

    There was a Muti-Colored Jasper at one of the Wenatchee meets that had been prepped better, it felt much like a Softer Arkie to me when I tried it

    I am pretty sure with proper surface prep you could get a decently burnished edge if you like using Oil Stones and the feel they impart then you should mess with one, but I doubt they will ever even match a good Translucent Arkie or a Charnley Forest

    JMHO
     
  14. joamo

    joamo Well-Known Member

    But wait, there's more! lol

    Top row: Chert, self cut, about all my saw could handle; Canadian Novaculite
    Bottom row, all 1/4 in slabs: Petrified palm, petrified wood, unknown, another Owhyhee, and 2 unknown jaspers.
    I like to experiment, especially with inexpensive or found subjects although the lapping, even with SIC grit, is not fun.
    [​IMG]
     
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  15. SevenEighth

    SevenEighth Well-Known Member

    Any that stand out as something special in terms of honing performance?
     
  16. joamo

    joamo Well-Known Member

    The Sioux Quartzites, I have 5 that I've cut from various sources and there were a few others I gave away. They all vary depending on the source and how the surface prep is done. Slurried with a diamond plate they are decently fast cutters, burnished like an Arkie and using oil I get a frosty looking bevel and a smooth edge. Not bad for rock that was used for erosion control on a river.
     
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  17. Steve56

    Steve56 Hone Hoarder

    DBCB63A6-9A74-4FC1-9F2F-4BAC29D7B0A5.jpeg

    Cumberlandite from Rhode Island. Heavy, iron-bearing rock - a magnet will stick to it. Took it for a spin today, see the honing thread for details and another image.

    Cheers, Steve
     
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