Holystoning teak - anyone knowledgeable?

[dweeze]

Hi,

Are any of you familiar with Holystoning teak? Pros vs cons? What sort of sandstone blocks are best and where they can be found.

Thanks - Tim

 

[Peterduck]

I've been fortunate enough over the last 66 years to only read about holystoning, and never to get any closer. I do not intend to change this situation. The stones themselves are likely to be fashioned from a layer of quartzite called The Millstone Grit. Sediments such as this are responsible for the cliffs of the Peak District of Derbyshire, and it may be that this is where these beds are found. It got this name because it was found to be particularly good for the grain-grinding stones of wind and water mills. It is very hard indeed, so I understand that a fine sand was cast on to the wetted deck before the holystoning party commenced, and this is the actual abrasive, not the holystone. The teak fibres and sand would form a slurry, which would be washed overboard when that particular area was finished.
Peter.

 

[Madeo]

Did a whole deck once when I was about 11 - 12 years old, as 'punishment' for leaving the gas bottle turned on, aboard 'Chrisando', a 40' wooden sloop. Finished the day hating the skipper, with hands in tatters and a lesson learned (and remembered 40-odd years later)!

Gives a beautiful finish to the deck if I remember rightly, but there's got to be a better way...

Brian.

 

[oldharry]

[quoteGives a beautiful finish to the deck if I remember rightly, but there's got to be a better way...



[/ QUOTE ]

... I think made by Black and Decker!

The original naval term Holystone - or Holy Stone came about because Nelsons Navy discovered that the stones of a derelict church near Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, over looking Spithead, were the best for scrubbing the decks. So every time a ship was anchored in Spithead, a party would be sent ashore to collect a further supply of 'Holy' stones.

I never found out where that church was, or what specific type of stone was used. Almost certainly a sandstone, because if they ran out of 'Holy' stones, they would use sand.

Generations of sailors would doubtless have given much for electrically powered sandpaper!

 

[Peterduck]

That's an interesting origin for the term. I had always supposed that it was because of the position adopted by the matelots using the stones resembling someone on their knees in prayer.
Peter.

 

[dweeze]

Thanks for this. Will try to track a stone down. I'm hesitant to use my sander on the teak and wont go anywhere near the chemical cleaners. We used a holystone it on the deck of an old square rigger I sailed on years ago and it kept it in pristine condition. Think it was only done about once every six months - and to me keeping the wood and caulking in good condition makes enough sense to justify the eventual need to replace it. I couldnt remember what stone we used except that it was local sandstone (west australian).