Thread: Arkansas hardness

I have seen that natural japanese water stones are rated with a hardness number such as Lv2, Lv3, Lv 4 and Lv5. If we could rate a Translucent or a Black Arkansas, how hard could they be rated with this same scale? Thank you.

Eleven.

And yes, here it is again...



Joking aside, I do think hard Arks are harder than hard Japanese hones.

Problem with an ark is it's reliant on the burnish.

Once you start to put slurry on them you have to be careful, If you go too low the burnish will just vanish and you have to start again.

I've played with mine with slurry, and outside of the finest finishing slurries you have to pay attention. I've had some success with light coti and thuri slurries provided I build the slurry on a DTM and transfer it over. If I try to slurry on the rock my burnish generally doesn't fare so well. I once tried a 6K king slurry and the stone came off looking shot blasted.

I have a collection of stones, diamond, Japanese, Arkansas and Lapping film. I really love the lapping film for the very last finish. I prefer the Arkansas because they are less hassel than Japanese water stones. The have to soak so long. I have up to 15,000grit but the Arkansas I have soft, black and translucent. They do take a lot of work, slow and even control. I like the 3 inch because it covers most blades. Diamond I am not too fansey for as they seem to take of more than I want I have been doing this for 20 years and am still learning. Best Sharpening stores carry the lapping film. One sheet will cut three pieces and mounted on a flat, smooth surface it will service about 30 razors before having to change. if you have not tried them I would suggest that you give them a go. Be extra careful because you can cut them very easy.

LV-5+++ UP UP UP

I have some pretty hard LV-5 jnats and none of them compare to the vintage Trans and blacks I've lapped.

Originally Posted by Dcaddo1

LV-5+++ UP UP UP

I have some pretty hard LV-5 jnats and none of them compare to the vintage Trans and blacks I've lapped.

^ This

LV-6

Mine are recently bought, soft, black and translucent. the acronyms LV-5 jnats is outside my realm of cognition. If you could explain it would be helpful. I go to antique shops for my razors, found a few stones that are weird and cannot find a respectable strop--they are all crapp-- and the dealters want outrageous prices for them. I had tussels with dealers over prices on blades. I picked up three brand spanking new german blades, decorated for $20 each. lovely pieces. The have Monday thrusday and Saturday on them so the other days are missing as I assume them came from a seven blade set.

Originally Posted by Glock27

I prefer the Arkansas because they are less hassel than Japanese water stones. The have to soak so long. I have up to 15,000grit but the Arkansas I have soft, black and translucent.

Japanese natural water stones, about which the OP asked, do not need to be soaked at all.