On Jan 3, 7:11*pm, GeoLane at PTD dot NET GeoLane at PTD dot NET
wrote:
On Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:23:27 GMT, "toolman946 via CraftKB.com"

u40139@uwe wrote:
I have a black, hard Arkansas oil stone that's probably close to 100 years
old (handed down from grandpa). The surface isn't flat anymore and it has
some chips and dings from many years of service. It doesn't see
at the surface with a diamond grit flat stone of similar width. Has anyone
had any experience (good or bad) with rejuvenating an old timer like this?

I looked back at some notes from my violin makers discussion group.
Some violin makers use Belgian stones, another naturally occurring
stone. *One person mentioned flattening his stone on his belt sander.
I believe Belgian stones are softer than Arkansas, but I don't have
personal experience for comparison.

RWL

Have a Belgian stone, it's a LOT softer than even a Wa****a. More like
a water stone. One of the granddads had it, center is about 1/2"
lower than the ends. Used for sharpening straight razors.

I'd be very reluctant to do anything dry and powered to a hard
Arkansas stone, wet lapping on a diamond wheel, maybe. Lapidary shop
would be my first stop, they were shaped that way to start with.

Stan