Thread: black Arkansas stone

Anyone use a black Arkansas stone as a finish hone or a touch up/ barbers hone. Our is it just to fine. Maybe a translucent Arkansas

Will let you know, have one on the way. Here is a good thread about them.

Tons of ark threads… waiting for you.

Just a search way...

About 30 years ago I used a hard Black Arky. Worked great when I fluked a good edge with my inexperience.

What do you mean too fine ? Never heard of a finisher that is too fine

Even at near dead cutting ability (from getting lapped *never* and being used a lot), they still have plenty of strength to be a good finisher.

I get as good of results with them as I do any natural stone, and though I'm not a razor seller, when I sell off razors that I've gotten and turned over just due to buying more, I've had some folks make positive comments about how well a razor is shaving.

I think they are as ideal as anything else (arkansas stones in general), they just have a bit steeper of learning curve and since the abrasive is right at the same hardness as some of the higher hardness carbon steel, it can be a trick to learn exactly what you're doing with them. But once you have it, personally I'd rather prepare a NOS razor on ark stones than anything else I've used, and the edge resulting from that is just as fine as anything else short of the submicron powders.

A good trans or black stone would certainly be up to the task of maintaining a razor, especially if paired with a good vintage linen, which steps up a natural stone edge and doesn't present much wear to an edge (and also stretches you out to at least several hundred shaves between honing).