Thread: Arkansas Stones

Recently I came into possession of some Arkansas stones and im trying to find out there quality. Some are massive 12" x 3" x 1"1/4.
I am completely ignorant on Arkansas stones or how to used them.

Halls Pro Edge Sharpeners & Hand American Made Hardwood Products (NJ)

I know that "Halls" opened in 1970 and changed their name to RH Preyda in 2014/2016.
"Hand America Made" I cannot find any details on only a suggestion that they might now be "Best Sharpening Stones"

Any info is appreciated.
Thanks

Dans whetstones knows their history and most everyone else’s in the past 50 + years. I have reached out to them on more than one occasion about the history of other American novaculite companies.

That would be a monster of a stone. Nice!

Any pics of the stones?

Look up handamerican.

Lots of info.

Originally Posted by 32t

Look up handamerican.

Lots of info.

So HandAmerica is Best Sharpening Stones..Thank you

Translucent



Surgical


Hard White


I have four big ones and some small ones

Today I took a Surgical Black Arkansas and gave it a lap.

I lapped both sides using a piece of marble as a base and SIC powders 120 / 220 / 400 / 600 . At 400 grit I chamfered the edges with a fine DMT plate and then I took one side to the polishing wheel, using a compound that has little to no cut.

I am basically now a cripple and need time for my old body to recover from this lapping ordeal :/

Then I took a Joseph Rodgers Tapered Razor that took an amazing edge from a Nagura progression on the Ozuku. I used mineral oil and gave it 80 laps on the shiniest side of the stone.

Beautiful stones and I am starting to really appreciate them.

Tomorrow I will have a shave and report back.
Cheers

Unfortunately last night I spotted some damage on the edge caused by a grit particle . Then I noticed under a table lamp light that I had not lapped a small area on one side.
Today I went back to the SIC powders. This time, after the 600 powder I took the one side up to 1500 wet glass paper and then through a few polishing compounds to get a super smooth finish.
Re honed the razor , the exact same amount of strokes and stones as previous and then gave it 80 on the Arkansas with mineral oil.
The edge was super sharp and gave me a smooth , close shave but a few weepers . Maybe 80 laps were overkill .
This week im gonna hone a few blades on the Arkansas and use soapy water and the scope. I think that's the way to go...

i like to have 2 finishes on my trans ark, which i understand are close,
one side at 600, other at 1200 ( from the advice of honemeisters) also it cuts down on time to finish and edge
i didn't love the burnished, high grit finish on them i felt the 1200 finsh was just as good as the burnished and in half the time. but needs more testing. i'm a novice with them but extremely happy with ark performance

i like ballistol and water

curious how different lubes change edge
i'd be interested in scope images, if you can

i'm still learning my hard ark... but looks like it will be a solid prefinisher