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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    29

    Default ID an old sharpening stone.

    Hello all
    Does anyone have a old "Charnley Forest hone" quarried in England? The hones were used up till around the early 1900's when they were replaced by faster cutting stones.
    I would really like to know what they look like (eg; photo) so I can compare with a stone I have.
    I will appreciate any information.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Hampshire UK
    Posts
    1

    Smile Charnley Forest sharpening stone

    Hi. These stones have a distinct green colour, but are textured similar to slate with a striated layer. When cut smooth the green is marbled through with fine black lines and some slight mottling. They are quite slow cutting but do bring up a fine finish, and I generally lubricate mine with water rather tahn oil, though parafin would probably work well and is what the older generation of craftsman might have used with perhaps a dash of heavier mineral oil in the can. Anything thicker tends to stop the iron reaching the stone and blocks the cut. Let me know if desperate for a pic and I will get round to taking a photograph. Regards. Ed

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    29

    Default

    Hello ed lawrence..

    A hobby of mine is collecting old natural oilstones and restoring them to use. I have a few now, with some been identifyed and some not.

    I have looked around the internet and have seen a number of photos of "Charnley Forest" sharpening stones posted in other forums.
    These natural stones seem to be of various shades of green and have distinct red or marone spots and streaks across the stone.
    They are reported to be fairly hard, very fine and slow cutting, bringing up a fine edge, as you say.

    Unfortunaly the stone I've got does not look like a "Charnley Forest", maybe its a "Turkey" oilstone. Now there's another stone I would like to see.
    If you like you can put up a pic of your stone.
    Here is a "Charnley" pic I took off the net......Cheers JJK.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Somerset, UK
    Posts
    445

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JJK View Post
    .....A hobby of mine is collecting old natural oilstones and restoring them to use.
    And there's me thinking I was the only one !
    I have a few and, like yours, some identified and some not (probably never will be). All of mine are car boot/auto jumble/junk shop finds, here and in Europe.
    I even visited the 'Water of Ayr & Tam O' Shanter Hone Co. some years ago.
    Couple of pics attached, one is of the stones I think are Charnley Forest.
    Mark

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    29

    Default

    Hi Mark,
    You are certainly not the only one who collects, restores or use these old stones, there are woodworkers, old style razor users, antique tool collectors, even Geologists!

    By collecting these stones, I combine my love of woodworking, geology and preserving history as well as doing a bit of detective work to correctly identify the type of stone and its original use. I have been doing this for a few years and have gained some understanding about this subject, but I am no expert.
    I try to limit myself to collecting natural stones but wont pass up good quality name brand man-made stones.

    Below are some of my collection
    1) Norton Hard Arkansas circa 1955, very fine.
    2) Unknown natural sandstone (Dalmore?), medium fine.
    3) Unknown natural ("Turkey stone"?) ,fine.
    4) Natural slate, very fine

    Cheers--JJK

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Of The Boarder
    Age
    68
    Posts
    16,794

    Default

    have 2 of my dad's slate stones now I am more aware sadly one dropped but thanks to a gent who has a diamond cutter wheel the bits have been fashioned for various uses like mini gouge honing. Even my sons know that they are terrific stones

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