Galoots Assembled, In the 21st century, sharpening chisels and planes is
big business andin some quarters approaching cult status. There are many
and variedmodern-day approaches to sharpening planes and chisels, with
adherents to eachmethod employing a wide array of hand and electric
powered abrasives. Todaythere is an almost obsessive concern with bevel
angles, back bevels,primary and secondary bevel angles, grinding, grits,
honing, and polishing. Books, magazines, and videos sometimes suggest to
contemporary woodworkersthat with the right plane, tuned carefully, and
with a blade correctlycambered and sharpened, a well-planed finish will
require little or no sanding andis ready for final finish. Furniture
makers of today can purchase stonesup to 30,000 grit, use diamond paste,
or automotive chrome polish on glassto achieve surgical sharpness on
chisel and plane blades.

My particular interest is in 18th century furniture making and
relatedmaterial culture and technology. Furniture from the middle to the
end of the18th century is often held up as the pinnacle of the art and
craft ofwoodworking, is the focus of countless books and articles, is
collected anddisplayed in museums, and commands breath-taking prices at
antique auctions. Against the context of our modern-day obsession with
sharpening, the broadquestion I am trying to answer is this: How did
18th century professionalfurniture makers in England and colonial
America sharpen their tools? Morespecifically, how did they sharpen the
planes and chisels used in finefinish work? What sharpening tools and
processes did they use to bring asurface to the point where it was ready
for scraping, or sanding, orapplication of the final finish. To begin to
answer this question, I turned to documents from the period: books,
images such as engravings and paintings, newspaper
advertisements,account books, invoices, and photographs of artifacts,
including thefollowing.

Gaynor, J. M. and Hagedorn, N. L. (1993). Tools: Working Wood in Eighteenth-
Century America. Williamsburg, VA: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Hummel, C. F. (1968). With Hammer in Hand: The Dominy Craftsmen
of EastHampton, New York. Charlottesville, VA: University Press
of Virginia.

Mercer, H. C. (1960). Ancient Carpenters=E2=80=99 Tools: Illustrated and
Explained, Together with the Implements of the Lumberman, Joiner and Cabinet-
Makerin Use in the Eighteenth Century. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications.

Pennsylvania Gazette, October 26, 1749.

Rees, J. and Rees, M. (1997). Christopher Gabriel and the Tool Trade
in18th Century London. Mendham, NJ: Astragal Press.

Sheraton, T. (1970). Thomas Sheraton=E2=80=99s Cabinet Dictionary, Vol.
II. NewYork: Praeger.

Stiefel, J. R. (2001). Philadelphia Cabinetmaking and Commerce, 1783-
1853: The Account Book of John Head, Joiner. APS Library Bulletin,
Winter2001, n.s. Vol. 1, No. 1.

It is apparent from these sources that an important tool for
sharpeningwas the grindstone. Appearing in 12th century illustrations,
the grindstoneis a tool we would all recognize. The grindstone makes an
early appearancein colonial America when Captain John Smith reports in
1607 in Jamestownthat the Indian Chief Powhatan asked for one. Mercer
cites probate recordsfrom 17th century Massachusetts indicating
grindstones were imported from England. The John Head account book (1712-
1753) shows that he bought from Mr. Branson a grindstone along with
lumber and hinges. Also, in the mid-eighteenth century the Pennsylvania
Gazette (1749) includes an advertisement from Joseph Trotter for
=E2=80=9CNewcastle grind stones. . .to be sold. . .Verycheap for ready
money.=E2=80=9D A photograph and description of the later 18th century
Dominy grindstone (1770-1800) appears in Hummel=E2=80=99s book, With
Hammer in Hand. Toolmaker Christopher Gabriel in an 1791 inventory shows
two grindstones in the yard. Like modern grindstones, the 18th century
grindstone wassandstone and probably used for coarse shaping and initial
sharpening. Byitself, it would not have been sufficiently fine for
putting a sharp edge onchisels or plane blades. As is the case today,
this would have required afiner sharpening medium.

With our focus squarely on the 18th century, we can eliminate
manmadeabrasive stones and the many types of Arkansas stones as 19th and
20th centurysharpening tools. Based on period documents, it=E2=80=99s
clear that the primaryfinishing stone used for final sharpening was the
Turkey stone (Turkeyoilstone, Turkey slate). Like many imported minerals
in the 18th century, itwas so named because it was quarried and imported
from central Turkey. Turkeystone is a very fine-grained siliceous rock
. Period references to Turkey stones are common. In a list of a chest
  ofjoiners tools imported in 1760 from England by William Wilson,
  ofPhiladelphia was =E2=80=9C1 Turkey Stone Clear of Knotts.=E2=80=9D
  An invoice for a set of Englishjoiner=E2=80=99s tools obtained by
  Falmouth, Virginia, storekeeper William Allasonfrom storekeeper James
  Bowie of Port Royal Virginia, Mary 31, 1768 ends withan entry for
  =E2=80=9C1 fine Turkey Oil Stone.=E2=80=9D The 1797 Benjamin Seaton
  toolchest also contains a Turkey stone. The accounts of toolmaker and
  merchant Christopher Gabriel reveal that in1787 he had 55 =C2=A3
  accounted for =E2=80=9Coilstones & &.=E2=80=9D In Gabriel=E2=80=99s
  accounts in1788 he specifically notes over 42 =C2=A3 =E2=80=9CIn
  Turkey Stone.=E2=80=9D In 1791, theaccounts of property on hand
  includes =E2=80=9CSaws, Turkey Stone, Edge Tools, and madeup
  Work=E2=80=9D to the value of over 304 =C2=A3. Transcriptions of
  Gabriel=E2=80=99s 1791inventory include =E2=80=9C30 lbs. Waste Turkey
  Stone,=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9CCwt 1 =E2=80=93 1 Qtrs 15 lbs=C2=BD (140
  =C2=BD lbs?) cutt Turkey Stone; 2 =E2=80=93 1 =E2=80=93 11(236 lbs?)
  Ruff ditto; 125slips of ditto; and, 28 lbs of Blue Stone=E2=80=9D
  (probably slate according to Rees &Rees); =E2=80=9C3 Oilstones
  Cased=E2=80=9D (Rees and Rees note that =E2=80=9CPopular opinion
  isthat no workman would buy a case for an oilstone so these must have
  beenintended for the gent=E2=80=99s trade =E2=80=93 or were
  they?=E2=80=9D). Finally, in his 1800inventory, Gabriel shows
  =E2=80=9C84 Turkey Slips.=E2=80=9D Thus far I have found no
  periodreference to sharpening stones other than those noted here.

To summarize, it appears that in the 18th century furniture
makerssharpened their chisels and planes using grindstones followed by
Turkey oilstones. Slips of Turkey stone were distinguished from other
kinds of Turkeystone, and this is not surprising given the number of
molding planes used in theperiod. Did period furniture makers go beyond
sharpening their bladeswith Turkey stones? I have not yet found period
references to stropping,although they certainly had the materials and
techniques as evidenced by theuse of razors and the need to sharpen
them. Did they use honing compounds? I have not yet found references to
this practice although we know fromSheraton=E2=80=99s Dictionary that
Tripoli was available and used to finish wood. Wecan also assume that
given the nature of jewelry making of the time that itis likely that
polishing rouge or compounds were available, though again, I=E2=80ve
not yet located any period reference to their use in
sharpeningwoodworking tools.

Some of the questions that remain for me include, what was the likely
gritvalue of Turkey Oilstones or Blue Stone=E2=80=94and how does this
number relate tomodern sharpening stones? Are natural Turkey stones
still availablecommercially? Are there period documents describing
sharpening woodworkingtools that involve the use of strops or honing
compounds?

Cheers, John

John M. Johnston "There is a fine line between hobby and mental
illness." Dave Barry
------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Sep 19, 2009, at 10:29 AM, Cliff Rohrabacher, Esq. wrote:

> The pressing  question was could they get a 30,000 grit turkey and  
> what bore did one shoot it with?
> One should think 410 would be sufficient

with a head shot, maybe. Or just throw a #8 at it. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Turkey stones were novaculite (quartz) same as the Arkansas and
theCharnley Forrest stones.
http://www.antiquetools.com/sharp/sharphistory.html

The pressing question was could they get a 30,000 grit turkey and
whatbore did one shoot it with? One should think 410 would be sufficient

Sgt42RHR@a... wrote:
> Galoots Assembled,
> >     In the 21st century, sharpening chisels and planes is big
> >     business and> in some quarters approaching cult status. There
> >     are many and varied> modern-day approaches to sharpening planes
> >     and chisels, with adherents to each> method employing a wide
> >     array of hand and electric powered abrasives. Today> there is an
> >     almost obsessive concern with bevel angles, back bevels,>
> >     primary and secondary bevel angles, grinding, grits, honing, and
> >     polishing. > Books, magazines, and videos sometimes suggest to
> >     contemporary woodworkers> that with the right plane, tuned
> >     carefully, and with a blade correctly> cambered and sharpened, a
> >     well-planed finish will require little or no sanding and> is
> >     ready for final finish. Furniture makers of today can purchase
> >     stones> up to 30,000 grit, use diamond paste, or automotive
> >     chrome polish on glass> to achieve surgical sharpness on chisel
> >     and plane blades.
>
> My particular interest is in 18th century furniture making and
> related> material culture and technology. Furniture from the middle to
> the end of the> 18th century is often held up as the pinnacle of the
> art and craft of> woodworking, is the focus of countless books and
> articles, is collected and> displayed in museums, and commands breath-
> taking prices at antique auctions. > Against the context of our modern-
> day obsession with sharpening, the broad> question I am trying to
> answer is this: How did 18th century professional> furniture makers in
> England and colonial America sharpen their tools? More> specifically,
> how did they sharpen the planes and chisels used in fine> finish work?
> What sharpening tools and processes did they use to bring a> surface
> to the point where it was ready for scraping, or sanding, or>
> application of the final finish.> To begin to answer this question, I
> turned to documents from the period: > books, images such as
> engravings and paintings, newspaper advertisements,> account books,
> invoices, and photographs of artifacts, including the> following.
>
> Gaynor, J. M. and Hagedorn, N. L. (1993). Tools: Working Wood in > Eighteenth-
> Century America. Williamsburg, VA: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
>
> Hummel, C. F. (1968). With Hammer in Hand: The Dominy Craftsmen of
> East> Hampton, New York. Charlottesville, VA: University Press of
> Virginia.
>
> Mercer, H. C. (1960). Ancient Carpenters=E2=80=99 Tools: Illustrated
> and > Explained, Together with the Implements of the Lumberman, Joiner
> and Cabinet-Maker> in Use in the Eighteenth Century. Mineola, NY:
> Dover Publications.
>
> Pennsylvania Gazette, October 26, 1749.
>
> Rees, J. and Rees, M. (1997). Christopher Gabriel and the Tool Trade
> in> 18th Century London. Mendham, NJ: Astragal Press.
>
> Sheraton, T. (1970). Thomas Sheraton=E2=80=99s Cabinet Dictionary,
> Vol. II. New> York: Praeger.
>
> Stiefel, J. R. (2001). Philadelphia Cabinetmaking and Commerce, > 1783-
> 1853: The Account Book of John Head, Joiner. APS Library Bulletin,
> Winter> 2001, n.s. Vol. 1, No. 1.
>
> It is apparent from these sources that an important tool for
> sharpening> was the grindstone. Appearing in 12th century
> illustrations, the grindstone> is a tool we would all recognize. The
> grindstone makes an early appearance> in colonial America when Captain
> John Smith reports in 1607 in Jamestown> that the Indian Chief
> Powhatan asked for one. Mercer cites probate records> from 17th
> century Massachusetts indicating grindstones were imported from >
> England. The John Head account book (1712-1753) shows that he bought
> from > Mr. Branson a grindstone along with lumber and hinges. Also, in
> the > mid-eighteenth century the Pennsylvania Gazette (1749) includes
> an advertisement > from Joseph Trotter for =E2=80=9CNewcastle grind
> stones. . .to be sold. . .Very> cheap for ready money.=E2=80=9D A
> photograph and description of the later 18th century> Dominy
> grindstone (1770-1800) appears in Hummel=E2=80=99s book, With Hammer
> in > Hand. Toolmaker Christopher Gabriel in an 1791 inventory shows
> two > grindstones in the yard. Like modern grindstones, the 18th
> century grindstone was> sandstone and probably used for coarse shaping
> and initial sharpening. By> itself, it would not have been
> sufficiently fine for putting a sharp edge on> chisels or plane
> blades. As is the case today, this would have required a> finer
> sharpening medium.
>
> With our focus squarely on the 18th century, we can eliminate manmade>
> abrasive stones and the many types of Arkansas stones as 19th and 20th
> century> sharpening tools. Based on period documents, it=E2=80=99s
> clear that the primary> finishing stone used for final sharpening was
> the Turkey stone (Turkey> oilstone, Turkey slate). Like many imported
> minerals in the 18th century, it> was so named because it was quarried
> and imported from central Turkey. Turkey> stone is a very fine-grained
> siliceous rock
> . > Period references to Turkey stones are common. In a list of a
>   chest of> joiners tools imported in 1760 from England by William
>   Wilson, of> Philadelphia was =E2=80=9C1 Turkey Stone Clear of
>   Knotts.=E2=80=9D An invoice for a set of English> joiner=E2=80=99s
>   tools obtained by Falmouth, Virginia, storekeeper William Allason>
>   from storekeeper James Bowie of Port Royal Virginia, Mary 31, 1768
>   ends with> an entry for =E2=80=9C1 fine Turkey Oil Stone.=E2=80=9D
>   The 1797 Benjamin Seaton tool> chest also contains a Turkey stone. >
>   The accounts of toolmaker and merchant Christopher Gabriel reveal
>   that in> 1787 he had 55 =C2=A3 accounted for =E2=80=9Coilstones &
>   &.=E2=80=9D In Gabriel=E2=80=99s accounts in> 1788 he specifically
>   notes over 42 =C2=A3 =E2=80=9CIn Turkey Stone.=E2=80=9D In 1791,
>   the> accounts of property on hand includes =E2=80=9CSaws, Turkey
>   Stone, Edge Tools, and made> up Work=E2=80=9D to the value of over
>   304 =C2=A3. Transcriptions of Gabriel=E2=80=99s 1791> inventory
>   include =E2=80=9C30 lbs. Waste Turkey Stone,=E2=80=9D and
>   =E2=80=9CCwt 1 =E2=80=93 1 Qtrs 15 lbs> =C2=BD (140 =C2=BD lbs?)
>   cutt Turkey Stone; 2 =E2=80=93 1 =E2=80=93 11(236 lbs?) Ruff ditto;
>   125> slips of ditto; and, 28 lbs of Blue Stone=E2=80=9D (probably
>   slate according to Rees &> Rees); =E2=80=9C3 Oilstones
>   Cased=E2=80=9D (Rees and Rees note that =E2=80=9CPopular opinion is>
>   that no workman would buy a case for an oilstone so these must have
>   been> intended for the gent=E2=80=99s trade =E2=80=93 or were
>   they?=E2=80=9D). Finally, in his 1800> inventory, Gabriel shows
>   =E2=80=9C84 Turkey Slips.=E2=80=9D Thus far I have found no period>
>   reference to sharpening stones other than those noted here.
>
> To summarize, it appears that in the 18th century furniture makers>
> sharpened their chisels and planes using grindstones followed by
> Turkey oilstones.> Slips of Turkey stone were distinguished from other
> kinds of Turkey> stone, and this is not surprising given the number of
> molding planes used in the> period. Did period furniture makers go
> beyond sharpening their blades> with Turkey stones? I have not yet
> found period references to stropping,> although they certainly had the
> materials and techniques as evidenced by the> use of razors and the
> need to sharpen them. Did they use honing compounds? > I have not yet
> found references to this practice although we know from>
> Sheraton=E2=80=99s Dictionary that Tripoli was available and used to
> finish wood. We> can also assume that given the nature of jewelry
> making of the time that it> is likely that polishing rouge or
> compounds were available, though again, I=E2=80> ve not yet located
> any period reference to their use in sharpening> woodworking tools.
>
> Some of the questions that remain for me include, what was the likely
> grit> value of Turkey Oilstones or Blue Stone=E2=80=94and how does
> this number relate to> modern sharpening stones? Are natural Turkey
> stones still available> commercially? Are there period documents
> describing sharpening woodworking> tools that involve the use of
> strops or honing compounds?
>
> Cheers, John
>
> John M. Johnston "There is a fine line between hobby and mental
> illness." Dave Barry
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
> OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
> aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
> value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
> traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.
>
> To change your subscription options:
> http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
> To read the FAQ: http://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html
>
> OldTools archive: http://swingleydev.com/archive/
>
> OldTools@r... http://ruckus.law.cornell.edu/mailman/listinfo/oldtools
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for pointing out that Turkey Stone is Novaculite, ("A dense, hard
even-textured, light-colored cryptocrystalline siliceous sedimentary
rock, similar to chert but characterized by dominance of
microcrystalline quartz over chalcedony.") I wonder if the Turkey Stone
quarried in 18th century Turkey and imported to England is the same as
the various Arkansas stones quarried in the 19th and 20th centuries?

The other references on the site are for mid-19th century technology.
Charnley Forest and other named stones do not appear in 18th century
documents that I have been able to find thus far--only Turkey Stones.
When I visited this site last week, I found it interesting that stones
like the Charnley Forest stones were referred to as a "the best
substitute for Turkey Stone" suggesting that Turkey Stone was still the
most desirable.

Do you know if the Charnley Forest stones are also novaculite or are
they a form of slate (note Christopher Gabriel's specific reference to
"Blue Stone" as separate from Turkey Stone.

Again, thanks for your help!

Cheers, John

John M. Johnston "There is a fine line between hobby and mental
illness." Dave Barry

In a message dated 9/19/2009 9:30:13 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
rohrabacher@e... writes: The Turkey stones were novaculite (quartz) same
as the Arkansas and the Charnley Forrest stones.
http://www.antiquetools.com/sharp/sharphistory.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a fine bit of informative writing, John informs us of his
researchinto 18th Century sharpening:

[heavily snipped]

> With our focus squarely on the 18th century, we can eliminate manmade
> abrasive stones and the many types of Arkansas stones as 19th and 20th
> century sharpening tools. Based on period documents, it=E2=80=99s
> clear that the primary fin ishing stone used for final sharpening was
> the Turkey stone (Turkey oilstone, Turkey slate). Like many imported
> minerals in the 18th century, it was so named because it was quarried
> and imported from central Turkey. Turkey stone is a very fine-grained
> siliceous rock

On another historical note, the 21 March 1755 edition of the
VirginiaGazette contains the following ad from Anthony Hay, owner of thewell-
known cabinet shop in Colonial Williamsburg where Mack Headleyand crew
ply their craft today (caps are mine) -

"Just Imported, and to be sold, by the Subscribers in Williamsburg,
aLARGE assortment of Carpenters, Joiners, and Cabinet-Makers
Tools,consisting of White's Steel Plate Saws of all sorts, Glue
Jointers,long Planes, Bench Planes, Tooth and Smoothing ditto, Moulding
Planesof all Sorts, Plane Irons, Chissels, Formers, Scribing Gouges,
Rasps,Files, TURKEY OIL-STONES, GERMAN SLATES, and a Variety of
otherThings."

This certainly seems to support what John already noted.

Dennis Heyza Macomb MI

------------------------------------------------------------------------

::  -----Original Message-----
::  From: oldtools-bounces@r...
::  [mailto:oldtools-bounces@r...]On Behalf Of
::  Sgt42RHR@a...
::  Sent: 19 September 2009 16:14
::  To: oldtools@r...
::  Subject: Re: [OldTools] 18th Century Evidence about 18th Century
::  Sharpening
::
::  Do you know if the Charnley Forest stones are also novaculite
::  or are they a
::   form of slate (note Christopher Gabriel's specific reference to "Blue
::  Stone" as  separate from Turkey Stone.

It must be about 50 years ago when I visited the site of a former quarry of
Charnley Forest stones near the village of Nanpantan near Loughborough in
Leicestershire, in an area known as Charnwood Forest.

When we were ferreting around an elderly gent charged up the slope and
demanded to know what we were doing. When we said we were looking for
fragements, he said that if we could answer questions about woodworking,
he'd let us take what we could find. I can't recall his questions, but we
passed his test and took away some pieces whose form suggests that they are
slate-like.

I do recall posting a chunk to a Galoot (apologies for forgetting his name)
who, when working it, was disappointed to find a fairly large flaw, possibly
explaining why the site was abandoned.

I think I've still got one or two pieces, only one small fragment has been
flattened for use for sharpening my penknife - Not having a diamond saw, I
haven't tried cutting and flattening anything elso, and I've already got a
'proper' stone mounted in a box.

As a matter of possible interest, in our training workshop at Loughborough,
we had a flattened but irregularly shaped fragment (set, I think, in plaster
of Paris) that must have beem about 10" long and  6 or 7 inches at the
widest part. Our tutor said that there was no need to make it rectangular
and we had a greater area to work on anyway.

Jeff
--
Jeff Gorman, West Yorkshire, UK
http://www.amgron.clara.net

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cliff Rohrabacher, Esq. wrote:
> The Turkey stones were novaculite  (quartz) same as the Arkansas and the 
> Charnley Forrest stones.
> http://www.antiquetools.com/sharp/sharphistory.html

The link has Charnley Forest as a slate, not novaculite.

   BugBear
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This site:

http://uk.ardennes-coticule.com/index.asp?id says (inter alia)

"History tells us that, whetstones have been mined in the Belgian
Ardennes since 1625."

"The stones are mined from approx. 480 million year old, almost soft,
grey-yellow sedimentary rock built up from clay and volcanic ash. During
regional metamorphosis a reorganisation of contained minerals has taken
place. Many of the minerals disappeared but importantly some appeared
namely quantities of Spessartit Garnet crystals."

However, people using cutting tools have always shown the greatest
interest in good sharpening stones.

Pliny the Elder, in Naturalis Historia (77-79 AD) says:

CHAP. 47. WHETSTONES.

We must now pass on to the stones that are employed for handicrafts,
and, first of all, whetstones for sharpening iron. Of these stones there
are numerous varieties; the Cretan stones having been long held in the
highest estimation, and the nex: best being those of Mount Taygetus, in
Laconia; both of which are used as hones, and require oil. Among the water-
whetstones, the first rank belonged to those of Naxos, and the second to
the stones of Armenia, both of them already28 mentioned. The stones of
Cilicia are of excellent quality, whether used with oil or with water;
those of Arsinoe,29 too, are very good, but with water only. Whetstones
have been found also in Italy, which with water give a remarkably keen
edge ; and from the countries beyond the Alps, we have the whetstones
known as " passernices."38

To the fourth class belong the hones which give an edge by the agency of
human saliva, and are much in use in barbers' shops. They are worthless,
however, for all other purposes, in consequence of their soft and
brittle nature: those from the district of Laminium,81 in Nearer Spain,
are the best of the kind.

We don't have to wait for the 18th century!

    BugBear
------------------------------------------------------------------------