Carborundum, Oilstone and Diamantine. It seems to be a constant of life.
The moment you become attached to a product that really pleases you, its only a matter of time before it disappears off the shelves for good, never to be seen again. You then spend a large portion of your waking hours scouring Ebay for the last remnants of your forbidden treasure. If you stumble across a source, the only rational response is to buy as much of it as you can afford. Maybe even a lifetime supply. Who knows when you'll ever see it again, right?
Just as Smeagol becomes Gollum, the shift from mild mannered citizen, to obsessed hoarder is inevitable.
Such is the case for grinding and polishing pastes commonly used in horology.
The literature commonly refers to using Oilstone powder (powdered arkansas stone) for steel preparation, prior to final polishing with Diamantine (finely ground aluminium oxide powder). I have also found that using a medium grade Carborundum is a very effective first stage preparation, prior to the Oilstone powder.
The moment you become attached to a product that really pleases you, its only a matter of time before it disappears off the shelves for good, never to be seen again. You then spend a large portion of your waking hours scouring Ebay for the last remnants of your forbidden treasure. If you stumble across a source, the only rational response is to buy as much of it as you can afford. Maybe even a lifetime supply. Who knows when you'll ever see it again, right?
Just as Smeagol becomes Gollum, the shift from mild mannered citizen, to obsessed hoarder is inevitable.
Such is the case for grinding and polishing pastes commonly used in horology.
The literature commonly refers to using Oilstone powder (powdered arkansas stone) for steel preparation, prior to final polishing with Diamantine (finely ground aluminium oxide powder). I have also found that using a medium grade Carborundum is a very effective first stage preparation, prior to the Oilstone powder.
Oilstone powder, very hard to find. The problem is, a few years ago, Oilstone powder became almost impossible to find. I purchased a 30g jar from German materials dealer Ernst Westphal in 2011, but it appears to have been one of the last jars in existence. If only I had known, I would have bought up big, cornered the market, and built an Oilstone powder empire!
Instead, I only purchased the one jar, and remain an Oilstone pauper. Desperately watching my pitiful supply slowly dwindle to nothing, trying to stretch it out as much as possible.
Since then, I have not seen it for sale from any of the common retailers. Occasionally old stock pops up on Ebay; small quantities left over from what appear to be retired professionals selling the contents of their workshops (or perhaps estate sales?). I recently had a crack at an auction, and missed out. Given that my precious little jar is nearly empty, I really needed a break.
And just like that, good fortune came to the rescue: Oilstone powder is back for sale at Ernst Westphal.
The order is in, and I patiently await my lifetime supply... My Precious...
Thanks for stopping by,
Chris.
Instead, I only purchased the one jar, and remain an Oilstone pauper. Desperately watching my pitiful supply slowly dwindle to nothing, trying to stretch it out as much as possible.
Since then, I have not seen it for sale from any of the common retailers. Occasionally old stock pops up on Ebay; small quantities left over from what appear to be retired professionals selling the contents of their workshops (or perhaps estate sales?). I recently had a crack at an auction, and missed out. Given that my precious little jar is nearly empty, I really needed a break.
And just like that, good fortune came to the rescue: Oilstone powder is back for sale at Ernst Westphal.
The order is in, and I patiently await my lifetime supply... My Precious...
Thanks for stopping by,
Chris.
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