Thread: More hard arkansas questions

Post a Pic.

There are tons, of very long thread on Arks on this site. Go to the Hones forum for more info that you want. Or Advanced Search.

It all depends on “your” stone and how it is prepped.

Here is a pic of the small Arkansas set (soft, hard and black hard (surgical?) I am referring to regarding if it is enough to hone a straight and/or to refresh a straight!

Thx.

Looks like a nice black, yes it could maintain a razor once properly prepared.

If it is smooth lap it with Wet & Dry from 220 up to 2K, then burnish with hard flat carbon steel 2-300 laps. Get the surface as smooth as glass.

It will finish a good 8 or 12k edge or revive a flagging edge. You will have to do circles and 100 laps, but will leave a nice edge.

If not burnished it will cut faster but, not polish as fine an edge. You can move through the grits fairly quickly if you use a progression and not make large jumps in grit.

I maintained a razor for 10 years on a 6X2 in translucent years ago.

The regular black stone from Natural Whetstone can be used as a finisher. I have a 3x8x1 that puts a nice edge on a razor. They are a good value too.

Ever heard of a Norton White Arkansas stone?

Originally Posted by SirMike

Ever heard of a Norton White Arkansas stone?

If you are referring to a Norton Lily White stone then yes. I have one. It seems to be a middle to high-middle stone that cuts pretty fast and it seems to me that the slurry is friable and breaks down. I haven't shaved off from it yet since I follow up with a translucent but I think I could and someday may try to but for now I am loving the edge off my translucent so much I just can't help myself but to finish everything with it.

Yea, some like the Lilly White, are capable of producing a shaving edge, not as fine an edge as a Translucent or Surgical Black.

I’ve had one soaking in Simple Green, for about a year, was black when I bought it and is pure white now.

Originally Posted by Steel

If you are referring to a Norton Lily White stone then yes. I have one. It seems to be a middle to high-middle stone that cuts pretty fast and it seems to me that the slurry is friable and breaks down. I haven't shaved off from it yet since I follow up with a translucent but I think I could and someday may try to but for now I am loving the edge off my translucent so much I just can't help myself but to finish everything with it.

The one I am referring to I dont think is called a "lily white" and it seems translucent. If I am wrong, please let me know.

See pics below! In the second pic it is the top one that fits in the box.

Thx.

Yup, looks like one. Needs to be finished like a black ark, flattened and smoothed on a progression up to 2k, then burnished, for razor use.

Translucent and surgical blacks are equally capable of producing very nice shaving edge.

Do not go by grit rating. Go by the shaving edge.

Test it first, if it's smooth and looks like it has been used, it may produce and edge. If not then prep it.

BTW, yours looks pretty thin, if you drop it or bang it against something hard, they will shatter like tempered glass.

Glue it to a block of wood or cut up nylon cutting board, if you plan on using it.