Thread: Arkansas Translucent preparation

Originally Posted by Euclid440

It might be easier to burnish a small stone on a block of steel, moving the stone rather than steel, so you could put some pressure on a corner, without worrying about slipping off the edge.

Not a bad idea

I'll report in on this thread when I get home from this load. I'm in Los Angeles tonight. Delivery tomorrow. Home by Sunday / Monday. Arks should be in Monday.

Made two new orders today. A 4x1.5 coticule (la verte) from Jarrod at the superior shave and a new dorko 8/8 from John crowley at the shaving shop. New threads and pictures will follow later.

In my travels today I was able to obtain the carbon steel plate pictured below. It measures 33x13, and is 3/8 steel. (Heavy rascal too). Picked it up from a facility specializing in oil / gas fabrications. The plate has flaws, but some sections seem smooth. I took course and medium emory paper to it, then applied a light coat of mineral oil. Given the above conversations about burnishing translucent Arkansas and hard black, is this a find, or a bust? Comments and suggestions welcome.

Got home just a bit ago. Orders not yet arrived.

What works best is hardened carbon steel, the edge of a wide tool, chisle, large knife or ax, that you can put pressure on. I use a meat cleaver held almost at 90 degrees, maybe 75-80 degrees so you can put pressure on the stone face.

I was thinking of an AX head in a vice and rubbing the stone on the ax.
Perhaps you can hang the plate over the edge of the counter, clamp it and use the edge to rub the stone on.