Questions about lapping an ESCHER

[Freehand]

I recently acquired a decent sized Escher stone off eBay. This is my first Escher and I’m quite satisfied with the size and condition. It measures about 8” x 2.75” x1.10”. It looks liked someone tried to do a little breadknifing on it and it doesn’t look like it’s been lapped in a couple of decades, so it is going to require a bit of lapping. I’m planning to start with sandpaper and will finish on a 300 DMT. What size grit should I start with and how high should I go before I hit it with the DMT? Other than washing part of the stone down the sink, is the any advantage or disadvantage in lapping both the top and the bottom? (The Escher label is on the lid of its wooden box.)

Once the Escher is properly lapped, what should I use as a slurry stone? I hate the idea of cutting of an inch off the end, even though it’s probably long enough to do so. I have a couple of Coticule bouts. What about using one of them as a slurry stone?

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.

Freehand

[Harvitz81]

Just use your DMT to lap it. Thuringians are quite soft and lap very easily. For the size of that stone you can cut off a 1/2 wide piece for a slurry stone or just raise a slurry with your DMT. Only need to lap and chamfer the side you plan on honing as well.

I use a little DMT 0.75" x 2.5" card I got on amazon for like $8. Half the time I don't even use slurry and just use it with water only.

Then again mine pretty much gathers dust these days as I'm mostly a coticulite now.