Thread: Question about burnishing Arkansas black

I recently got a nice 6"x2"X1/2" Black Arkansas from Dan's whetstone. I have read about burnishing the stone before use. I have a 4"x4" steel dapping block that I use for pinning scales. Can I use this for burnishing?

Do you use the flat of the block to rub on the stone or the edge? Is it just rubbing back and forth/circles or is there a specific pattern?

Did a search on YouTube for how to burnish an Arkansas stone and nothing useful. Anyone know of a video I could watch if the process?

I looked up what a dapping block was on internet. Don't know how that would help. IMO, take a chisel and lay down a some strokes. How many is up to you and you arm.

Again IMO, the goal is to knock the rough off the stone. Some will suggest a full on burnish, complete will mirror like sparkle. I look for the silky feel on the stone. This will get the stone to a user friendly state. The rest will come later as you hone razors and achieve a natural burnishing over time.

Congratulations on your purchase from Dans Whetstone. The True Hard Black will serve you well for a crisp, smooth shave.

While, I suppose you could use your bock, I find that an edge of a long piece of steel works best, as it is easier to hold, apply more pressure by concentrating the pressure in a smaller spot.

A large carbon steel kitchen knife, of better yet and easier to hold and apply your body weight, a butcher’s cleaver. Work a small section at a time, (an inch or two) and proceed down the stone face, at a high angle about 45 degrees, to the stone face, over lapping the worked sections, then blend with long full length strokes.

The goal of burnishing is to smooth the stone face, by smoothing the tops of the grit.

A well use vintage stone will have had the same thing done, by having honed hard tool steel over years of time.

I am not aware of any good video of the process.

[QUOTE=Longhaultanker;1724560]I looked up what a dapping block was on internet. Don't know how that would help. IMO, take a chisel and lay down a some strokes. How many is up to you and you arm.
QUOTE]
The dapping block simply is a large block of steel that he happens to have on hand. It could be used in the same manner for burnishing as a lapping plate would be used on a hone.

There are a couple of ways to go about it. What I typically do with mine is sand it on 600, 1K, then 2K sand paper. After that I hit them with my Norton 4 & 8K stones, I scrub them with a Chrome Oxide crayon and buff them with a cotton wheel.

You can do the same thing with a hard carbon steel knife, or just about any tool because 01 tool steel is pretty hard stuff. Just takes more time and a lot of strokes with nothing but steel to burnish the stone. No pattern required, just back & forth strokes without a whole lot of pressure. The idea is to smooth out & polish the surface a bit like longhaultanker said.

The dapping block might work. I think a blade might be more productive, but can't say for sure because I've never tried using a dapping block.

How about if I try the steel block like a lapping plate I will make a video and send it to one of you to see if it might be worthy to put on the site or YouTube? I don't have any desire to just post stuff about honing since I am just figuring it out. Too many "experts" out there that just put stuff out as fact IMHO.

Anyone up for an experiment?

Unless the dapping block is hardened to the same level as a knife or chisel (doubtful) I wouldn't use it. The purpose of the burnishing is to wear in the stone. Softer steel won't do the job nearly as fast, if at all.

Originally Posted by eKretz

Unless the dapping block is hardened to the same level as a knife or chisel (doubtful) I wouldn't use it. The purpose of the burnishing is to wear in the stone. Softer steel won't do the job nearly as fast, if at all.

OK- I am sure it is cheap steel- I will use one of my older kitchen chef's knives.

Originally Posted by eKretz

Unless the dapping block is hardened to the same level as a knife or chisel (doubtful) I wouldn't use it. The purpose of the burnishing is to wear in the stone. Softer steel won't do the job nearly as fast, if at all.

The is a good point that I had not considered. I would hope that the dapping block is hardened given the way it is used.

To my Dan's Whetstone brother, Marshall:

I know you put a lot of work into your new, beautiful emerald Dan's True Hard. Looks like a piece of polished candy. Just scrumptious. But that's a lot of work. When I got my two travel stones, black and translucent, I took the chisel to them. Too much work! Since I'm in my truck driving everyday, I hold both stones and rub them against each other. At the risk of appearing a bit like Capt. Queeg, they've taken on a nice shine.

When I got my big Ark. Black I took one of the travel stones and just rubbed the two together. While the big one doesn't sparkle, it has a lovely silky, satin finish. All three leave marvelous edges.