Thread: Dan's Whetstone vs. Natural Whetstone

Does anyone have Arks from both Dan's Whetstone and Natural Whetstone? I'm curious if the ones from Dan's justify the higher price? I have soft and hard Arks from both companies and can't tell a difference between the two company's stones - both are excellent. But I'm wanting to get a Translucent Ark, and the price difference is something I'm taking into account. Thanks!

Good question. I will be watching. Sorry i cant help.

Nobody? I was hoping to find the answer to this one.

I don't have both, side by side. I have a black translucent from Natural Whetstones which is different from Dan's black hard. The black translucent provides a little bit finer result from my experience, and is closer to Norton hard black Arkansas stones of old. Other than that, my stones have come from Dan's or from Sharpening supplies. Sharpening Supplies' Arkansas stones are rebranded Dan's stones, at a cheaper price than Dan's sells them.

If you have both soft and hard Arkansas stones from both NW and Dan's and could post some side-by-side shots of them, I would love to seem them.

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

I don't have both, side by side. I have a black translucent from Natural Whetstones which is different from Dan's black hard. The black translucent provides a little bit finer result from my experience, and is closer to Norton hard black Arkansas stones of old. Other than that, my stones have come from Dan's or from Sharpening supplies. Sharpening Supplies' Arkansas stones are rebranded Dan's stones, at a cheaper price than Dan's sells them.

If you have both soft and hard Arkansas stones from both NW and Dan's and could post some side-by-side shots of them, I would love to seem them.

I have them both I can only speak of my 2, that being said I noticed that Dan's is much deeper black and appears to have finer pores. Dan's also sounds better with the ring test. As far as honing on them they are very close, yet I still prefer Dan's. It's all probably in my mind but there you go...

I have a Dan's Hard Black, but not a Natural.

Remember that most of the cost of producing one of these hones is the labor required to lap and polish what is one of the world's hardest natural stones. I know Dan does a good job with this aspect.

What kind of job does Natural do? That is a question I cannot answer.

Originally Posted by RayClem

Remember that most of the cost of producing one of these hones is the labor required to lap and polish what is one of the world's hardest natural stones. I know Dan does a good job with this aspect.

What kind of job does Natural do? That is a question I cannot answer.

I can. Not a very good one when it comes to razor use. I have a 1" x 3" x 10" translucent black bought new from NW. Their flattening leaves something to be desired, but the stone itself is great. Just a lot of work to flatten, especially the big ones.

Dans .. Tc

Hey guys

New to the forum, but I have a couple of Dan's and a couple of NWC. Although I can't do a side by side comparison of each type of stone on here, I can tell you what I have found when I opened up the boxes, as well as how the stones performed.

I have a "black translucent" stone from natural whetstone co, and it is an excellent finishing stone. It cuts very slow but if I had to guess on grit rating it would definitely be North of 1200, closer to 1400. I have never seen other stones quite like it.

Dan's makes a translucent stone as well, but the dan's trans that I have (while it will still transmit light) is slightly mottled with brownish-spots. It has nothing to do with it's performance because it still performs very well. I would say it would be close to 1200 grit.

They are both reputable companies, but the quality of the stones that Dan's turns out (shipped out of the box, lapped, flat, etc) has been better in my experience. I had to lap the trans black from NWC and it took me a while with SC powder on wood-backed-glass. I ended up leaving it at 1200 SC powder and broke it in with sharpening from there. Dan's stones were all ready to go, flat and lapped and ready to use when I took them out.

That being said....I do like NWC's soft Arkansas stone better, I have one soft in each brand and the Natural Whetstone Co seems to abrade steel a little bit quicker. The NWC Soft is off white/cream colored. The Dan's is a grey/black speckled stone, each stone is 8x2x1. I also have a Dan's 8x3x1/2 and it looks identical to the Dan's 8x2x1.

I have custom ordered a black Arkansas stone from Dan's two weeks ago and it's pretty deadly. Bottom line is, both are great stones, NWC a bit cheaper but you may have to do a bit of work when you get them. I really don't mind since I know they're getting a lap after some good use anyways.

Money is like manure, better when it's spread around a little.

Originally Posted by Hawkeye09

Hey guys

New to the forum, but I have a couple of Dan's and a couple of NWC. Although I can't do a side by side comparison of each type of stone on here, I can tell you what I have found when I opened up the boxes, as well as how the stones performed.

I have a "black translucent" stone from natural whetstone co, and it is an excellent finishing stone. It cuts very slow but if I had to guess on grit rating it would definitely be North of 1200, closer to 1400. I have never seen other stones quite like it.

Dan's makes a translucent stone as well, but the dan's trans that I have (while it will still transmit light) is slightly mottled with brownish-spots. It has nothing to do with it's performance because it still performs very well. I would say it would be close to 1200 grit.

They are both reputable companies, but the quality of the stones that Dan's turns out (shipped out of the box, lapped, flat, etc) has been better in my experience. I had to lap the trans black from NWC and it took me a while with SC powder on wood-backed-glass. I ended up leaving it at 1200 SC powder and broke it in with sharpening from there. Dan's stones were all ready to go, flat and lapped and ready to use when I took them out.

That being said....I do like NWC's soft Arkansas stone better, I have one soft in each brand and the Natural Whetstone Co seems to abrade steel a little bit quicker. The NWC Soft is off white/cream colored. The Dan's is a grey/black speckled stone, each stone is 8x2x1. I also have a Dan's 8x3x1/2 and it looks identical to the Dan's 8x2x1.

I have custom ordered a black Arkansas stone from Dan's two weeks ago and it's pretty deadly. Bottom line is, both are great stones, NWC a bit cheaper but you may have to do a bit of work when you get them. I really don't mind since I know they're getting a lap after some good use anyways.

Money is like manure, better when it's spread around a little.

Welcome to the forum. It might be a good idea to introduce yourself in the Beginners forum subsection Members Introductions.

Bob