Hi will a old slate roof tile work As a rolls razor hone I don't see whay not as you can get Slate hones Will see tomorrow when I have cut it to size I am going to lap it on some 250 grit wet and dry Then I will replace the strop I have a offcut of split it has grain On both sides will it work or does it have to be smoooth leather
Good luck. I've heard of people trying this, but for use on straights. I haven't heard of any successes.
Not all rocks are created the same. I’ve made quite a few hones from stone. Sometimes you wind up with a hone shaped rock. Not all rock has a consistent matrix and even if it does, it will not always cut. The only way you can tell if that particular piece of slate will make a nice hone is to cut it, lap it and try it. Slate is typically quite soft and the process should be fast and easy. I have a lot of pieces of slate that are good cutting slate but only in the 5-6K range. Finding a nice finisher is kind of challenging. You may be very lucky and should try it out.
I had previously sharpened my straights on my bench stones (oil & water) up tp 10000 grit. Then tried a Rolls blade. Could never ever get it shaving sharp using the Rolls box's hone but got it reasonably sharp on a Chinese 10000 grit waterstone. Then re-discovered a neglected bench stone I'd never had much success with when sharpening knives. It looked like the Welsh purple slate stones 12000 - 14000 grit selling on eBay, so I tried the Rolls blades-I'd acquired some 17 by now-on this purple stone. Hallelulah. I use the purple stone to hone my Darwin wedge blades as well & strop these in the Darwin box on leather-impregnated FeOx, as per original Rolls & Darwin specs of yesteryear. I also strop the Rolls blades in their case on the original leather strop but am looking to also strop "out of the box" on a leather belt coated with FeOx. BTW: Last year I sold my +/- 20 straights ( incl Henckels, 8 Kropps, Genco), couldn't trust my trembling hand, a casualty of old age, not to inflict some serious facial damage. :>)
Hi Very helpful I have tried it and it slices through paper And hair on my arm like a dream Now I shall replace Know I now Ps fantactic shave A1
