Thread: Hard Arkansas

I would go with a black. A trans might be to big of a jump from 8k

Thanks! I'll probably just get both though because I like to save on shipping looool. Hi my name is HaRdCaSe and I'm a stone addict

Originally Posted by HardCase

I've followed this conversation with great interest. The finest stone I have now is a norton 8k, which would suit me better a black or a trans? Thanks in advance

Either. They are just names for stones that look different but fall into the same density rating. Arks don't go by grit they go by density which is rated by specific gravity. I don't have a translucent yet but have already ordered one just waiting for it in the mail. However a lot of guys who use both do usually say that there blacks tend to be smoother. I have a surgical black ark which is translucent to a point. This stone is awesome. I mean stupid awesome. Takes a while on the stone but man, you shave your face and just kinda have to do a double take. It also takes a while to lap and break in the stone. If you buy from dans there stones are lapped flat already so all you have to do is break it in which just requires rubbing some harder steel on it till its smooth and shiny. Be aware that this stone will take many many laps.

Originally Posted by Wid

It would be hard to tell what black he was using and more importantly how it was conditioned. I have had a Swatty in my hand but never used one but from feel I find it hard to believe it was finer than either of my black stones and no where near the translucent.

All I can tell you is that I'd lapped it with a DMT 325 and then a DMT 1K. As with Everything about this age old art is 'personal preference'. As I posted he 'thought' that it might be a finer grit. Perhaps he just 'prefers' it

It also has to do where the stones are sourced. Dans say the black is the finest and Naturals say they translucent is the finest.

My black from Dans is real close to the trans from Natural. Either would make for a great finishing stone. Even a black from Natural gives a real nice edge.

As mentioned above the black and trans fall into the same grade of true hard based on specific gravity. Since anything over 2.5 falls into this grade, regardless of color, it is surprising that vendors don't advertise the specific gravity of the more dense true hard stones. I have a soft at 1.77 that is great for setting bevels and a black at 2.55 that produces a great shaving edge.

I understand the black and trans have the same 2.5+ density but the feel and feedback of the two seem different to me. Could be placebo affect? Guess it could be.

2.5 is the minimum to get into the true hard class. My guess is that one is a bit more dense than the other but both over 2.5.

Originally Posted by jollo74

Hi folks,

time for me to eat some humble pie ...

After a couple of not really good experiences with Arkansas hones for razors I was convinced they are no good... You also don't read a lot (if anything) about them in our German straight razor shaving forums.

So, I thought it's just an American thing (you know, like Germans loving the thuringians and Belgians the coticules)...

But I was wrong and it turned out that I probably just didn't have the best specimen and definitely not the right prep...

It started to dawn on me after buying this nice stone:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...ml#post1357336

Now I have just gotten another one, a lovely translucent Arkansas in a nice wooden box:







It came dead flat and smooth as polished marble. I honed my little 5/8 Kiebitz razor on it (coticule finish) and it took ages but I was rewarded with a nice polished edge and a super smooth shave. No burning of the after shave whatsoever.

I'm a believer now !

Cheers
Jörg

Jörg,
That is one seriously nice arkie. I got chills looking at it. I'm interested in the history of arkies and am curious if you bought it from a seller in Europe or in the US. We had a big export business of these stones dating back to the 19th Century, but they were considered expensive for their time. More so, I think, than coticules or Thuris. Anything you know about the history of that stone I'd love to hear.

mark

Originally Posted by Oakeshott

I'm interested in the history of arkies

Here a very interesting article about the History of Arkansas stones a others US stones.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...rt-1899-a.html