Natural Stone: Orsa Pink
£23.00
From Sweden, a medium grit sandstone with variable bite.
It can be paired with a finer stone to set an underlying scratch pattern for mowing trickier grasses. See below for more on pairing stones.
In stock
Description
This bite of this medium grit stone lies between La Bergamasca and La Saurat.
The amount of bite (and so the rate at which it removes metal) varies depending on the pressure you apply. It can be paired with a finer stone to set an underlying scratch pattern for mowing trickier grasses (see FAQ right/below).
An effective scratch pattern can be applied with relatively little pressure. Aggressively using this stone will sharpen your blade fast but will also wear away your peening bevel more quickly, and so shorten the interval until you need to peen again!
A Note on Stone Holders and Handling
The Orsa Pink is about 240 mm long and 40 mm wide. It does not fit into the galvanised stone holder, but works well in the yellow plastic stone holder.
The Orsa Pink is reported to be a little more brittle then other stones we stock. It can be a bit more sensitive to cracking if dropped or jogged about in a box with other stones. Storing and transporting the Orsa Pink in a stone holder helps keep it secure.
FAQs
Some scythers find it useful to use a pair of stones when honing in the field.
A coarser stone, such as the Orsa Pink, is used to set an underlying “scratch pattern” which is then followed up with a finer stone such as the Rozsutec or the Saurat to fine tune the finish.
This gives an aggressive cutting edge which is more effective on waxier grasses. It is also useful when mowing in dry conditions with stalky, flowering grasses and herbs, which can blunt a fine edge quickly.