I've been looking for a hard (white) ark for pocket/kitchen knives and found this company.
https://www.bestsharpeningstones.com...rpening-stones The prices seem pretty reasonable. Just wondering about quality. Anyone used any of their products?
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I've been looking for a hard (white) ark for pocket/kitchen knives and found this company.
https://www.bestsharpeningstones.com...rpening-stones The prices seem pretty reasonable. Just wondering about quality. Anyone used any of their products?
Attachment 314202
Check Dan's
I've yet to come across a translucent in the wilds, yet. But that's all I use my Arks on, is knives. I do have a black, but yet to gain a edge I like, for razors.
Slower than molasses, on the mountains in January.
Might look at a Washita, if ya can find one.
A real cool rock, versatile, with the use of different lubes.
Dan's has an 8x2 but no 8x3. I would be fine with the 8x2, but the 8x3 at Best is just about the same price as Dan's 8x2. Of course I might be picking nits and being cheap.;)
Their flat, from Dan's.
Don't know about the other, place.
They ain't no fun ta lap.!
JJ, I've got the 8x3 surgical black from Best Sharpening Supplies, but there's nothing wrong with an 8x2. With some lapping and burnishing on one side, it took/takes my edges to a whole new level of precise, sharp and smooth that fine arkies are known for.
That said, may of our forum members strongly recommend Dan's over all others. Word from most users is that their stones come flatter from the get go, which is key, unless you're one of these masochists who actually likes flattening stones that are harder than Japanese arithmetic. Plus that family and everyone in the shop is well-known for customer service. If I had it to do again, I'd spend a little extra and get a Dan's for those two factors-I may get one yet just because I love arks. And if you can afford it, get a thicker one for the stability and confidence it will provide.
Periodically, some ark-a-holics on this forum will post a bunch of tips and experience on using them. Their esteem in the straight razor community has risen markedly since I got started about 10 years ago as users have found ways to short-cut the old hundreds of strokes technique (mostly with oil and pressure on well-burnished stones).
Make sure your synth edges are spot-on to about 8 to 12 k before going down this rabbit hole-welcome to the dark side if you get one. I know the excitement, as I just pulled the trigger on one of those Zulu Greys in their 50% off sale (plus I'm baby-sitting TC's for awhile). Let us know what you end up with!
I visited Dan's a while ago and after seeing their operation and meeting the people that is where I would buy a new one from.
I got an 8x3 black from them at that time.
I visited their sight and now see the biggest I could find was a 11.5x2.5 .
I got the 8x2 black, plenty big enough.
I've had a 6x2 Smith's black ark since before I'd even thought about straights. I've always liked that stone.
I'd never flattened it and gave it a go a few months ago. Still have plenty of sic powder left. I wouldn't say I like it but no worse than hours of blade sanding. I'm sure I'll be learning it with razors when I've got the1/4/8K thing handled, though it might be a little small. Works great for my carving knives.
I also couldn't resist the 50% sale and have a Silkvein ordered. I've still got lots to learn before I tackle that one though.
With an Ark go by density not color. Although color can be an indicator depending on the quarry and what what was happening at the time that layer was layed down and the impurities at the time it was formed. It is not a true indicator of the "fineness" of the stone.
With Dan's the black is their finest grade.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JellyJar
Too small..!!! Ha.!
My mighty Thurigan.,
Attachment 314212
Well, that answers that. :D I'd say my ark is good to go.
I guess it's true what they say about size not mattering... :angel:
Some say about 6x2" is just about the perfect size for honing razors. Keith Johnson sells a lot of jnats that size. I had one of his 6x2" shubodanis a few years ago-never should have sold it! I have smaller hones than that that work great-you just end up doing more laps, and/or your x-strokes are more angled.
+ the smaller stones are much easier to keep flat.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad
With a sweeping X stroke how much of the hone do you use?
True, I've got a 4x2 soft ark I use with knives. Many are larger than a straight. I see a lot of 8x3 hones discussed and just hadn't thought about smaller stones with a straight.Quote:
Originally Posted by 32t
6" x 2" is fine for me with razors. Sharpening Supplies sells rebranded Dan's for a slight discount.
For Dan's Whetstones...
knifecenter.com has them for a pretty decent discount (search Dan's in their title bar)... As does Taylor's Toolworks storefront on Amazon (a little trickier to navigate)... I'm pretty sure Santa has a 12x3 Dan's black ark for me purchased via Taylor's... I just have to be a good boy for another 10 days. Do I need that stone that big? Absolutely not. But it was the same price from Taylor's than other vendors in the smaller size I was looking for.
Lastly Dan's periodically places stones in their 'specials' section. There currently is a large selection there. They do sell 8x3 (and larger) black arks; you have to select "wide bench stones." The site is a little confusing in that respect.
After a bit of searching (thanks for the suggestions) and some waffling. I wound up going with a Dan's 8X2 soft/hard combo. The combo wasn't much more than a single stone, got me a bigger soft, and made the total thickness 1". I figure the 8" will be a little nicer with the long kitchen knives.
Nice..!!
I was lucky to have been gifted a set, from a gent at work.
Great for knives.
Attachment 314253
Attachment 314254
They might be from cabela's, but their still Arks.
An interesting series of stria bevel comparison, Ark bevels and synthetic bevels, on the Best Stone site.
So, as with all Naturals, it only holds for that particular stone, but interesting none the less. The difference with Arks, is the ability to “finish” a stone face to produce faces that can produce, different and finer finishes with the same stone.
Burnishing the stone face, allows the same grit to cut or polish with the same grit width, but not cut as deep and polish to a much higher grit equivalent.
I finish one side to 600 grit wet and dry and the other to a fine burnished finish that with use will finish even finer. The benefit of dual grit finishing is a very fine Ark finishing progression that can speed up an Ark finish, somewhat.
Yes, Arks cut slowly, but a well-honed edge, to at least 8k and polished with Chrome Oxide, CBN or Diamond make a great base bevel for an Ark finish. Just make sure you are honing to the edge with the Arks, sharpie ink will quickly tell you. A Translucent or Surgical Black edge is a unique shaving edge once you dial it in.
For knives I like a Hard Ark, Lilly White, over a Black or Translucent, especially for carbon steel.
Attachment 314259
Outback: The pattern on the medium is really nice.
Euclid: I didn't see that on the site. Pretty cool info. My black ark is flattened on both sides, one burnished the other not. I've played around with it a bit but nothing serious. The un-burnished side does seem to cut more than polish. When I start to give real attention to learning that stone I'll probably start a thread and get some tips.
Wow! That was some fast shipping. Got home tonight and there was a package on my desk.:y
The medium (soft side)
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And the fine (hard side)
Attachment 314264
Right out of the box, not even wiped down. The colors are messing with me a little as I'm used to the hard having the whiter color but that's how their labeled. I also noticed the same colors for single stones at Dan's website. Must just be this particular vein.
They look pretty flat to a straight edge but just to make sure I think I'll do a grid and run them over 600 a little.
For kitchen, pocket knives.... I found well finished surgical Black, and trans arks both black and white to hard and didn’t really improve edge for the amount of work.
I was trained and worked a chef in an earlier career. And found those super polished bevels were impractical. I’m guessing the max grit stone I ever used cooking professionally was 1k.
As far as size get the biggest you can afford. I have many 6x2 arks. Few 8x2 arks, and one 10 x3 surgical that is pure luxury. Plus for larger knives it will be much easier to hone on larger surface. Plus large stones are just sexy
For for non razors edges ARk I would suggest lower progression then finish with a trans white or hard ark finished a bit coarse 320- 400 grit loose SiC.
I found a company called natural whetstones to have some great prices and some larger stones
Also be careful they sell a composite Hard ark. I actually like for non razor edges
Dan’s has best reputation for best lapped and flat out of box. If you are capable and willing you can get a lesser finished ARK at a lower price, and do the work yourself
Hope I'm not raining on the parade, but the currently named "hard Arkansas" is actually a denser soft Arkansas following the older categorization. Dan's "true hard," "translucent," and "black hard" grades are hard Arkansas stones of old.
For more on this, see the following chart as linked: https://www.danswhetstone.com/inform...ne-grades-101/.
Good to know. Whatever they want to call it, if it gets my edges where I want them, I'm good with it.
I did get a chance lap it and both sides were dead flat right from the start. I hit both sides with 400 and finished the fine side with 600 and added a bit of bevel to the corners. The sides are much smoother to the touch now.
I haven't decided if I want to burnish either of the sides yet. I'll figure that out after I see what it will do as is.
I honed up a pocket knife and a touched up a couple of kitchen knives with some Smith's honing solution. I'm really liking this stone. The edges came out quite well. The 8" length was nice with the longer kitchen knives and I find the 2" width easier to hold. All in all I think it's going to work out well.
I'm a little late to the party, but I've got a few stones from Best (Soft and hard Arkansas) and my translucent came from Dan's. Best's stones are Arkies, there's no doubt in my mind there. They do get the job done as well as any other Arkansas soft & hard stone I've ever owned. And they came pretty well flattened too. I'd say there's nothing wrong with them, but I do prefer my Dan's stone. Probably because it's a full inch thick and stands up higher above my sharpening stand. The Best stones I always feel a need to set the stand or stone on something taller to make up the difference.
If I'm holding the rock I prefer 6" x 2" but most of my honing is on a bench stone and I prefer 8" x 3" when it's possible. An 8" x 2" profile works well enough though. It's not too terribly important, if you're diligent you can do anything with a 4x1 that you can with an 8x2 stone. Just takes a little longer and a little more patience.
Good to know the Best stones aren't junk.
I've been quite happy with the Dan's 8x2 combo. I hold my stones and don't have overly large hands, so the 2" width has been nice. Sometimes I'll get cramps in my holding hand with 3" stones.
I agree with the extra thickness being nice. I've used 1/2" thick stones with knives for years, but the crazy sharpness of razors has made me much more conscious of where my holding hand is relative to the edge. :eek:
Agreed, 1" thick stones in the hand are much more comforting. When I'm using something the thickness of the average barber hone I am very, very wary of where the blade is, where it's going, and where my fingers are in relation to that.
I hone everything, with stone in hand. The thin, 1/2" stones, I hold in the palm of a open hand, finger tips out of the way.
By holding a stone in hand, it acts as a gimbal bearing. If I apply too much pressure to the heel or toe, the stone will tilt to match, ensuring even pressure though out the length of the blade. In short, no honing off the edge of the stone, common when honing on a flat, fixed surface.
