Thread: New Member - Need help with arkansas stones

Hello, I'm trying to find a source for some thicker hard black/hard translucent arkansas stones. Most sites I've visited only sell them 1/2" thick.

Also, are there any places to buy boxes/cases for stones that are 8x3"? Seems most accessories are catered to stones that are 2 inches wide.

Have a look at this outfit:

Home Page | Natural Stones | Halls Sharpening Stones

If you don't see what you're looking for, then give them a call. Richard Hall can probably help you.

PS: They also sell "seconds" (odd sizes, maybe slightly off color) at reduced prices.

awesome, thanks

For what it's worth, I've ordered from Naturalwhetstone and I have ALL good things to say about them. Fast shipping for sure and everything was packed VERY well. Actually double packed.

Originally Posted by HaiKarate

For what it's worth, I've ordered from Naturalwhetstone and I have ALL good things to say about them. Fast shipping for sure and everything was packed VERY well. Actually double packed.

Just checked it out. Seems to be another good site as well. Thanks.

Thickness does not matter, you will never wear out a Black Ark. Mine is over 40 year old, better said I bought it new unused 40 years ago and it still look brand new.

Old thick Arks are hard to find, EBay and Classifieds here and other razor sites may net you a vintage stone. Try Razor & Stone a site dedicated to honing stones, many are member here as well.

Be prepared to pay for a vintage 8X3 or larger stone they can be pricy.

Once you do get one, stone prep for a new stone is key. For a vintage stone, if it was used leave it alone and try it first, if you lap it you may ruin it or at least it will take a lot of work to get a well-worn burnished finish back. It is all about the finish on the stone, it should feel like wet glass.

An Ark finish is unlike the finish off any other stone, crisp and keen… but I guess you know that or would not be looking for one.
Vintage Black Arks and Tranlucents are very, very similar in performance and you do not need a 3 inch to finish, a 2 inch stone is fine… but 3 inch is nice.

For boxes that are themselves work of art contact "Royalcake" a member here. He will custom make a one piece box for your stone from exotic wood.

Good Luck, worth the time and expense.

How do you lap an arkansas stone? I heard even DMT diamond stones are not enough for arkies(I've heard stories of people wearing their diamonds out after one session)

Wet and dry sand paper is about the only real option. Keep it wet and just spend a couple of hours grinding.

If you try a diamond plate you'll find you have no diamonds left on your plate in no time!

My own arkie is a 9x2x1 trans black vintage. It took about 3 days with a couple of hours spent each night to lap it flat. It had 5mm + of dip.

Once you have it flat you then need to finish the surface. With the arkie this means going to town on it with something like a chisel or plane blade till the surface breaks into a glazed finish...

Originally Posted by jcmv4792

How do you lap an arkansas stone? I heard even DMT diamond stones are not enough for arkies(I've heard stories of people wearing their diamonds out after one session)

DMT 120

I heard those stories too, but after multiple Arkies, Barber's Hones, and just about any other "Hard as Heck" natural stone you can name has fallen flat to the DMT and it is still going strong... Either those stories are not true or I have a Special "Hulk" DMT

Also just by chance could be that people don't use them right I guess, but, only using the weight of the plate, and to keep it drenched isn't a huge list of rules

Haven’t tried the DMT 120, but 80 grit loose Silicone Carbide, a cookie sheet and some flat concrete or a marble slab will get them flat in a hurry.

GotGrit.com has all you will need and it is not expensive, you don’t need much.

Use large grit size to get to flat, then polish with progressive smaller grit and finish on high grit wet and dry. Once flat the progression goes quickly.

Burnish with lots of laps (200-400) with a hard wide chisel or carbon steel kitchen knife, smoother the better

There are threads on this site. It is a bit of work.