Old grinding stones

C

Cantillon

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Sep 19, 2020
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I found these with other old material from my grandfather:




Anyone knows what they can be used for? I have never sharpened a knife but would be interested to learn how to do so.
 
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^FortyTwo's the man, as regards the scythe stones especially. I was anticipating his input on those.

The large rectangular stone does look like a double-sided bench stone - I'm betting it's an aluminum oxide oil stone (Coarse & Fine), based on what I see of it's color on the 'light' side.
 
The Carborundum company pattern numbers for the middle and right ones are 198 and 191 respectively. Other makers made the same patterns, but many of them used the same pattern numbers.
 
Should still be usable, yes. They will probably need the surface reconditioned as they appear to be clogged with hardened oil. If simply running them through a flattening process (I recommend loose silicon carbide grit on a flat piece of glass or tile) fails to remove the hardened oil glazing, boiling them in water can often lift that film from the surface, followed by scrubbing with a stiff bristled brush. If that doesn't work, you can soak them in mineral spirits to dissolve it.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Should still be usable, yes. They will probably need the surface reconditioned as they appear to be clogged with hardened oil. If simply running them through a flattening process (I recommend loose silicon carbide grit on a flat piece of glass or tile) fails to remove the hardened oil glazing, boiling them in water can often lift that film from the surface, followed by scrubbing with a stiff bristled brush. If that doesn't work, you can soak them in mineral spirits to dissolve it.
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Will try, thanks!
 
Cantillon said:
It is very smooth, but I don't really have any reference material I need to add.


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I keep looking at that wondering if it isn't a Belgian Coticule. The dark side might just be a piece of slate, many times it will show scratches from the uninformed trying to sharpen with it over the years. I'd want to lap that stone both sides and see what it looks like cleaned up.

If its a coticule you have a very nice stone there.
 
Cantillon said:
HeavyHanded HeavyHanded , there definitely is a chance, since I am from Belgium. Will keep you guys updated. Any recommended videos for the flattening process?
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You might be able to just use a diamond plate and some water. I wouldn't use an extra coarse one though. Some 120 grit silicon carbide grit with water and a flat stone, glass or metal plate could also be used.
 
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