Thread: Lapping a Dan's Arkansas

Fellas,

I just purchased a soft and surgical black arkansas. I'm really excited to try them and I'm enjoying reading some threads to prepare myself for what might be in store and the responsibilities I have as a straight razor shaver to get there.

I haven't found any comprehensive tutorials on lapping black and/or transclucent arkansas hones though, and I'm looking for advice.

One member recommended ~24, then ~80, then ~500 grit silicon carbide and some serious elbow grease. Sounds good to me, I'm gathering the materials as we speak.

So,questions:

1. If anyone has experienced Dan's whetstones before (which I was told by their customer service they are "flat" but honing expectations are seriously resentments under construction)—did you have to lap from the ground up or just "finish"/burnish the stone?

2. How did YOU finish your black arkansas?

Advice / recommendations appreciated.

I would check it with a straight edge before doing anything. If you've got a diamond plate one of the non-diamond coated edges would be a perfect test edge. Place it flat on the stone and hold it up to a light, see if you can see anything between it and the stone. Check a few places. My soft and hard Arkansas didn't need flattening, just a quick surface prep.

Originally Posted by Marshal

I would check it with a straight edge before doing anything. If you've got a diamond plate one of the non-diamond coated edges would be a perfect test edge. Place it flat on the stone and hold it up to a light, see if you can see anything between it and the stone. Check a few places. My soft and hard Arkansas didn't need flattening, just a quick surface prep.

Thanks Marshall, I will take up your suggestion as I have an old DMT lying around somewhere.

Like your arkies?

I'm quite happy with my Soft and Hard stones. I'll reserve full judgement until I've played with the Translucent that just came in. But these may just be my favorite stones.

ahhhhhhhhHH!!!!

I'm fighting the urge not to change my 6 x2 order for a black ark into a 6 x 3. God help us all.

I've never owned one of Dan's but I've got vintage Norton/Pike Washita, Soft Ark, Translucent, and Black Hard Ark. With all of those I drew a pencil grid and lapped them on a 325 (DMT D8C). When you draw the grid and do a few swipes back and forth what remains of the grid will tell you how flat the stone is relative to the plate.

Don't lap the black it's flat enough. Just burnish it.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Don't lap the black it's flat enough. Just burnish it.

I'm excited to report back on the coticule slurry on ark thread. Something like next week I will have some results! On both the black and the soft.

I would use a flat steel plate and silicon carbide. Use big circles and rotate the stone from time to time. Then do side to side and up and down strokes. It'll take a while...mine ate my dmt for breakfast .

Originally Posted by Disburden

I would use a flat steel plate and silicon carbide. Use big circles and rotate the stone from time to time. Then do side to side and up and down strokes. It'll take a while...mine ate my dmt for breakfast .

I have a 12 x 8 granite slab. Think that'll do?