Thread: ID old hone

"arkansas" and "translucent" should get you started.

I bought one not too long ago. Tried it once, not successful-but want to save final analysis until i've worked with it a few more times.

Here's mine: http://straightrazorpalace.com/aucti...what-rock.html


and a thread: http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...od-razors.html

I don't think it's a translucent. More like a Washita or Arkansas soft. Not a finisher, but it's a good stone.

Thanks everyone! I'm going to give it a try with a little oil. From what I understand this stone would be best used after the 1k but definitely before the 8k. Sound right?

Depends on the stone.

If it looses it's grit than it's probably 1K-1.5K

If the grit doesn't budge and it's that hard that it begins to take a glassy sheen then it will continue to build that sheen till it becomes a very fine finisher.

Unlike other stones arkies don't slurry at all. If you have one that looses grit then the grit lost is not an aid to sharpening. It's merely swarf. And needs to be cleaned off or it will dull your edges eventually.

There is a big gap in arkies between the 2K and 10K area this is due to the nature of the stone. It either looses grit, or it glazes. There is no middle ground to my knowledge. Someone else might be able to add to this tho.

Iceni, thank you. Is it ok if I PM you about my questions and experience with this hone?

yeah but I only have the information I've picked up on here, and my knowledge I've got from my own arkie. Mine been a trans black finisher. It took a fair amount of reading to begin to understand my stone as it seems to break all the rules. If yours isn't a finisher I'm not going to be of much use to you.

Looks like some good advise has been given, Josh! I have used them on knives, not razors. Don't mess up a nice blade If you have no old junkers around, I will send you a few with cosmetic issues to experiment with!

To test the stone I would try this.

Get a cheap wood plane from a DIY store. And remove the blade.

Then get your arkie flat on some wet and dry paper. These stones are hard as hell and it might take a few hours to lap. Work to 1200 grit.

Once you have a flat stone work the flat side of the plane blade over the hone. Ignore the scratch pattern on the blade. Look at the hone instead. If the hone shows no signs of glazing after 30 mins of rubbing you have a 1-1.5K stone.

If the stone is glazing in spots then you have a lot of work to do. Keep rubbing the metal on the stone till it takes a glaze all over. At this point the stone will feel like glass. If you start to look at the metal you'll see it getting a mirror finish.... Rub till your hands bleed. Then rub some more. Eventually you'll have 90% of the face glazed, then it's ready for a razor!

Mine ended up looking like this before I put a razor on it... And it's still building it's glaze every use.



As for finishing using the stone. I'm currently going 6Kjap to the arkie. And that progression is very slow. I'm planning on dropping a 10K or 12K in and still feel the arkie would improve the edge, There was a test for these stones done by Modine and his results were very impressive if you have a finisher.

http://www.razorandstone.com/showthr...ural-hone-test