Yellow Belgian chunk, Irregular Shape

Honing stones are aids for the manual honing of ground tools. A distinction is made between natural stones and artificial stones. Natural stones come from quarries and are partially different in size, quality and appearance. 
 

Yellow Belgian Brocken - a water honing stone.
This is the most famous natural whetstone. It is offered in two qualities: Quality I (extra-extra) and Quality II (extra-fine) and in different sizes and shapes: bench stone in rectangular shape, chunks in irregular shape and as shaped stone. The specified qualities are predominantly optical grades. Quality II can have blemishes. In terms of stone quality, however, it is identical to type I. In addition, a distinction is made between the expensive, continuously yellow chunks and the chunks and bank stones with a slate back. The slate back is necessary to stabilise the yellow stones, because the thin stone layers in the quarries usually deliver the best quality.

 

Since most whetstones can be used with both water and oil as a lubricant, it must be mentioned that the user must choose one of the two. When working with oil, the following rule applies: once oil - always oil. Oil is more “pliable” than water for handling, but it carries the risk that traces of oil can get onto the piece of wood and leave stains there.