Thread: Lapping a Dan's Arkansas

I have 3 stones from Dan's Whetstones, 2 hard black and one translucent. I strongly, highly recommend burnishing only, no lapping. Dan's stones come well flattened. Marshall's advice, looking for light with plate on top, is sound. Don't start lapping unless absolutely essential.

Dan's stones will be pretty flat, but what you need is one of these. In fact this one is mine and was purchased from Dan's several years ago.
As the owner of a lapping machine purchased from them, I would say I am a bit of an expert on the subject, and its my opinion that the machine will get it VERY flat, but I do like to lap them on 600 to 2000 grit wet dry paper on a marble tile, I have found that the machine does 99% of the work but I do prefer to get that last 1% out by hand.

One other trick I have used before and had great luck with is to use some diamond paste and rub two of the stones together, or on the marble slab or such, no real proof it does anything, but I really like the glossy look after.

I recorded this video the other day, the machine has been sitting under moth balls for about 4 years, taking up space in my garage, I have a guy I am probably going to sell it to, (and sending it back to Arkansas where it belongs) but before I sell it I thought I would get a few hundred stones lapped out before I do.
that and HAD got to me recently which is fun.

Originally Posted by sidmind

Dan's stones will be pretty flat, but what you need is one of these. In fact this one is mine and was purchased from Dan's several years ago.
As the owner of a lapping machine purchased from them, I would say I am a bit of an expert on the subject, and its my opinion that the machine will get it VERY flat, but I do like to lap them on 600 to 2000 grit wet dry paper on a marble tile, I have found that the machine does 99% of the work but I do prefer to get that last 1% out by hand.

One other trick I have used before and had great luck with is to use some diamond paste and rub two of the stones together, or on the marble slab or such, no real proof it does anything, but I really like the glossy look after.

I recorded this video the other day, the machine has been sitting under moth balls for about 4 years, taking up space in my garage, I have a guy I am probably going to sell it to, (and sending it back to Arkansas where it belongs) but before I sell it I thought I would get a few hundred stones lapped out before I do.
that and HAD got to me recently which is fun.

I love it when you talk dirty

Good luck J743, and congrats on your new stones yet to be received.

I bought Dan's. Flat as a Western Kansas landscape I tell you. But yeah, checking for sure is always a good idea. But for real - I have yet to hear anyone say their Dan's weren't flat.

I only burnished mine if I recall. But who knows anymore. What I do recall doing was going hog wild on my knife collection (I have a few). Then I hit up my kitchen knife collection (I have a lot) ... then back to my knives before I used it on my razors. The more you use it, the more the magic methinks.

Be patient -> it'll reward you.


Again. Congrats!

Originally Posted by earcutter

Good luck J743, and congrats on your new stones yet to be received.

I bought Dan's. Flat as a Western Kansas landscape I tell you. But yeah, checking for sure is always a good idea. But for real - I have yet to hear anyone say their Dan's weren't flat.

I only burnished mine if I recall. But who knows anymore. What I do recall doing was going hog wild on my knife collection (I have a few). Then I hit up my kitchen knife collection (I have a lot) ... then back to my knives before I used it on my razors. The more you use it, the more the magic methinks.

Be patient -> it'll reward you.


Again. Congrats!

Thanks Earcutter!

I can't wait to see if I can take some coti slurry on the blackness monster and cook up a nice edge.

Thanks for the kind words and inspiration!

Originally Posted by J743

Thanks Earcutter!

I can't wait to see if I can take some coti slurry on the blackness monster and cook up a nice edge.

Thanks for the kind words and inspiration!

Totally understand the excitement. And I know you are really into trying out the coti slurry on top of the old Black. No doubt you'll go for it in spite of this BUT, if there is an ounce of patience in you lol, try really hard to master your black and know how your blade(s) feal off of it. It'll make you understand the coti/black edge more better.

Well that's my advice lol - I doubt I could resist myself though. lol.

When I got my third stone, hard black, from Dan's, I rubbed it against the translucent for burnishing. Super glossy and silky smooth.

Originally Posted by sidmind

I have a guy I am probably going to sell it to, (and sending it back to Arkansas where it belongs) but before I sell it I thought I would get a few hundred stones lapped out before I do.

I'd bet money that your PM inbox is going to have a few competing offers when some people see that setup ! I wouldn't be surprised if the thing doesn't end up in Minnesota if the guy who is probably going to buy it doesn't hurry up and send the $ ............

Really cool vid, thanks for posting it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I'd bet money that your PM inbox is going to have a few competing offers when some people see that setup ! I wouldn't be surprised if the thing doesn't end up in Minnesota if the guy who is probably going to buy it doesn't hurry up and send the $ ............

Really cool vid, thanks for posting it.

Ha, I doubt that. The thing is huge and like 800 pounds. Technically I plan on giving it to the guy and not selling it, and he deserves it as he earns cash from selling stones and currently does it all by hand in northern Arkansas, Google "Dota Creek stone" Great guy and has some wonderful natural stones. Very similar to Novaculite Arkies but slightly different at the same time. I have a full collection.

I plan to make a much smaller and lighter one. I think it would be easy to make one such as this one I seen on this forum awhile back.

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

I have 3 stones from Dan's Whetstones, 2 hard black and one translucent. I strongly, highly recommend burnishing only, no lapping. Dan's stones come well flattened. Marshall's advice, looking for light with plate on top, is sound. Don't start lapping unless absolutely essential.

+1 of all the stones I have bought from Dans all have been perfectly flat. I have a few