Thread: Question about burnishing Arkansas black

Thanks, I forgot to mention rubbing stone A against stone B. Before I stumbled into a thread where a user detailed the method I use now, I did that with almost every stone in my collection and got positive results. I just like what I get from a stone that is perhaps over-buffed a wee bit more. Then again, the difference is small and could possibly just be placebo.

I think at this point the only finisher that I haven't burnished like my True Hard is my little Shoubudani. It would be pointless to burnish it since that stone is used with slurry, BUT the little fellow has actually taken a nice sheen too just from rubbing it with the tomo stone that came with it. With the right pair of rocks you can get comparable results with that method too.

Here is what I am using to burnish- like a lapping plate. Seems to be working.

Results so far after about an hour of exercise...



Here is the unburnished side



Done or keep going?

Originally Posted by Sdm84

Done or keep going?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Steel

Yes.

Now I'm really confused! Which is it?

I agree !

Originally Posted by Utopian

I agree !

You're no help lol! [emoji23]

I always used to ask my Mother that when I was cooking. Done or keep going? She would reply-yes. In other words it is up to you to learn through experience when to say it's done. Based on your pictures it looks good to me but if it is not performing well and producing good edges then it will need more. Take a bite and see.

...And when you are done burnishing you will find you've expended much energy with minimal distinction from opposite side. But, it will be burnished.

OK I will try it- it is much improved in feel- very smooth noticeably better than the unrefined surface.

Originally Posted by Steel

I always used to ask my Mother that when I was cooking. Done or keep going? She would reply-yes. In other words it is up to you to learn through experience when to say it's done. Based on your pictures it looks good to me but if it is not performing well and producing good edges then it will need more. Take a bite and see.

Regarding the actual burnishing issue. I actually do agree that it looks great as is but you need to go by performance, not appearance.

Regarding cooking, there is a cookbook entitled "Cook Until Done!" It arose from a guy's interactions with cooks who, deliberately or not, were quite vague about their recipe explanations.

Regarding your mother's leaving it to you to figure it out, for your own good, it reminds me of Paul, my former father in law. When his son was a teenager doing his homework, he often would ask his Paul how to spell some word. Paul always would answer in the same way...

"D-I-C-T-I-O-N-A-R-Y!"