Is it really?

[MJP]

Just seen this on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-norto ... SwX61ZLStI

- a combination Norton oilstone, or so it says.

Now, all the combination stones I've seen have been medium plus fine - and the fine one is salmon coloured.

This stone is two greys - looks like a typical poundshop stone.

Did Norton ever make an India stone like this - two greys?

Martin.

 

[memzey]

Looks like an India combination covered in crud to me. I picked up one that looked much like that at a boot fair a little while ago and under the grime was the salmon colour you describe. I'll see if I have a picture of it somewhere.

 

[memzey]

Here you go:


I even considerately dropped it on the floor to knock a chip out for you to see the colour underneath.
You're welcome

 

[MJP]

Well, I call that devotion beyond the call of duty Memzey!

- so it's just a grubby combination stone. I'm amazed how uniformly dirty such stones can get - I would have expected to have seen some glimmer of salmon on the side at least.

Something else learned today.

Thanks, Martin.

 

[MJP]

I dunno though -

Just been back to take a more careful look - I can see the two grits clearly, surely if it was covered in grime I wouldn't be able to see the difference?

I don't think I'm convinced.

Pity about your Norton India - but it wasn't chipped in vain!

Martin.

 

[memzey]

Lol - the pic is a couple of years old - evidence of my cack handedness even back then! Looking at the pictures of the eBay listing I think there is a bit of salmon colour showing through. I wouldn't take the grey grimy hue as evidence that it isn't an India but it's up to you whether you feel it's worth bidding on or not.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I've a combination stone that I picked up on a car boot that is grey both sides, I have no idea whether it's a Norton but it is a very good quality stone. It is harder than hell, and the join is about two thirds of the way up the stone.

 

[memzey]

Sounds like a carborundum or crystolon stone. They are a bit coarser than indias I think (I've picked up one or two of them at boot fairs too). The one in the eBay listing looks more like an India to me but I could be wrong. The box is a bit of hint though!

 

[MJP]

I guess you're right, it is an India combi.

Reason I asked is that I have a couple of India fines and am getting to like them, thought that it might be worthwhile getting a medium as well.

Martin.

 

[bugbear]

I guess you're right, it is an India combi.

Reason I asked is that I have a couple of India fines and am getting to like them, thought that it might be worthwhile getting a medium as well.

Martin.

For whatever reason, the "Norton India fine" is unique. Within the limitation of its grit size, it is extremely fast cutting and hard wearing. The medium is quite different, and rather less.

BugBear

 

[rafezetter]

I'm not convinced it's an india fine - the light green grey has several dinks in it and no sign of the salmon colour underneath, but I don't have one of my own to confirm this. Memzey's stone is more "oil black" on the the surface compared to the light green/grey of that stone, and I'm sure I've seen oilstones of that colour in it's natural state.

 

[MJP]

I have to say that my first reaction upon seeing it was that someone had used an old Norton Fine box to house their run of the mill cheapo stone. I'm still not totally convinced that I'm wrong.

Look at this one for comparison - well worn, very grubby, but the last pic clearly shows some hint of salmon showing through:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Oil-S ... Swq1JZHECt

Martin.

 

[memzey]

Having looked at the images on the listing again I'm 100% convinced it's an India. You can clearly see some of the salmon colour coming through in the second picture. Also I wonder how much the seller would stand to gain from performing such a switch - pennies I'd imagine.

Rafe - how are you doing mate? Old dinks in the corners get filled with oil and swarf every time the stone gets used and soon end up the same colour as the face. There are plenty in my pic above if you take a look.

 

[MJP]

Oh, I'm not suggesting that it's a deliberate switch - just that the vendor has found a Norton box with a stone in it and made the natural assumption.

Martin.

 

[ED65]

I wouldn't be 100% that's an India. On my screen there is no hint of orange showing through.

That doesn't mean it isn't one, it could well be because the crud on the surface of a stone very often completely obscures the original colour. But seeing as India combination stones are common as muck I think it would be better to wait for one where the ID is certain, unless you don't mind taking a punt and having it turn out to be something else.

 

[ED65]

Having looked at the images on the listing again I'm 100% convinced it's an India. You can clearly see some of the salmon colour coming through in the second picture.

Monitor variations can swamp subtle colour differences.

And in case there's lingering doubt, I brought the image into Photoshop, turned the saturation up to 11 and there's no orange on that side of the stone.

 

[MJP]

I've got no intention of buying it ED, it just aroused my curiosity. As you say, there's plenty about so I'm waiting until I see a nice clean one.
I started learning to sharpen with detergent & water on various unidentified stones, but following comments in this forum I've changed to IPA and sometimes 3 in 1 on a Norton Fine and I'm quite sold on them now.

Martin.

 

[memzey]

Having looked at the images on the listing again I'm 100% convinced it's an India. You can clearly see some of the salmon colour coming through in the second picture.

Monitor variations can swamp subtle colour differences.

And in case there's lingering doubt, I brought the image into Photoshop, turned the saturation up to 11 and there's no orange on that side of the stone.

I don't know what any of that means but on my iPhone I can definitely see some salmon colouring along the edge of the stone as seen in the second photo. They are as common as muck so if the OP isn't convinced he can pass this one up and another 10 will come along shortly.

 

[ED65]

I don't know what any of that means...

Sorry did that read like VCR instructions? Just trust that there's no orangey colouring in the stone in that image.

 

[memzey]

Why is that Ed? Unless I've missed something you are also viewing the image via a screen so won't that impact it as well? Also to note; when I got my India it was completely grey with no hint of any other colour from the surface. The visible difference between an India and a carborundum stone is that the former looks smoother and the latter more grainy IME.