Thread: More hard arkansas questions

Surgical is just a marketing term. It's something that halls and some others use on their stones, but all black arkansas stones without pores are of the same class, surgical term or not. I guess as people try to differentiate themselves we may end up getting even wackier things, like surgical in patient and surgical outpatient.

What matters more is where the stone comes from. The dans black stones are very good (but expensive if 8x2x1 size). they can be found in half inch thickness for a decent price and sometime a steal. They also have wood mounted 6x2x1/2 (sometimes they're thinner than 1/2) stones that show up on places like sierra trading post for very cheap (like $30). There's no difference in finishing quality of a 6x2 thin bargain wood mounted stone and a $150 8x2x1 stone. I've had both.

Natural whetstone's "trans black" is good (I haven't tried the regular black). Halls stones are OK, but the old ones were out of flat, and the company got sold and the street price went way up (used to be able to get them at a deep discount if you were willing to do the lapping). I think the stuff that comes out of dans mines is better.

I haven't heard anything good about the inexpensive black stone that woodcraft sells under their house brand (not to be confused with the fabulous mujingfang phig).

Nortons are OK, both types, and when their trans is available, it's inexpensive.

If you can find vintage off the internet, especially the old bone colored trans stones or the old translucent nortons, that is probably the only way you'll get a deal.

Anyway, it's more about the company and the mine than it is the name (as in, Dan's black doesn't resort to calling itself surgical, but it's a better stone than the halls surgical - though the halls surgical is decent, too if flat, just not better than the dans).

Thanks for the responses. My black Arkansas should do well. I will try it soon. The other Arkies may have to wait until I'm feeling more ambitious.

Originally Posted by DaveW

Surgical is just a marketing term. It's something that halls and some others use on their stones, but all black arkansas stones without pores are of the same class, surgical term or not. I guess as people try to differentiate themselves we may end up getting even wackier things, like surgical in patient and surgical outpatient.

What matters more is where the stone comes from. The dans black stones are very good (but expensive if 8x2x1 size). they can be found in half inch thickness for a decent price and sometime a steal. They also have wood mounted 6x2x1/2 (sometimes they're thinner than 1/2) stones that show up on places like sierra trading post for very cheap (like $30). There's no difference in finishing quality of a 6x2 thin bargain wood mounted stone and a $150 8x2x1 stone. I've had both.

Natural whetstone's "trans black" is good (I haven't tried the regular black). Halls stones are OK, but the old ones were out of flat, and the company got sold and the street price went way up (used to be able to get them at a deep discount if you were willing to do the lapping). I think the stuff that comes out of dans mines is better.

I haven't heard anything good about the inexpensive black stone that woodcraft sells under their house brand (not to be confused with the fabulous mujingfang phig).

Nortons are OK, both types, and when their trans is available, it's inexpensive.

If you can find vintage off the internet, especially the old bone colored trans stones or the old translucent nortons, that is probably the only way you'll get a deal.

Anyway, it's more about the company and the mine than it is the name (as in, Dan's black doesn't resort to calling itself surgical, but it's a better stone than the halls surgical - though the halls surgical is decent, too if flat, just not better than the dans).

The sets I have are cheapo's from Blade HQ and come in a wooden box. The Soft and Hard came as a "kit" with oil in a wooden box and the Black "surgical" came separate but also in a wooden box. All stones are about 4x2x1/2 roughly! After reading your post, I am guessing that these won't be any good so I shouldn't bother with them at all!

Thx.

Originally Posted by SirMike

The sets I have are cheapo's from Blade HQ and come in a wooden box. The Soft and Hard came as a "kit" with oil in a wooden box and the Black "surgical" came separate but also in a wooden box. All stones are about 4x2x1/2 roughly! After reading your post, I am guessing that these won't be any good so I shouldn't bother with them at all!

Thx.

Always check! You never know. At one point, I assumed all black arkansas stones were good stone, but several people have told me those small stones were not nearly as fine cutting as known good stones.

They're novaculite, your stones, so you can't really hurt anything trying them out. Since I haven't tried them myself, I don't know if the people who mentioned the stones didn't condition them right or if they're just bad. I make that point only because the NW "black trans" and the dans black stones as well as translucents from various manufacturers never get bad press.

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?