Thread: Chipped translucent arkansas

So a little question for everyone about a recent acquisition. I got a vintage norton translucent that was originally glued into a wooden box. Over the years it looks to have come loose and aside from dried up glue on the underside, there is a decent sized chip in the bottom of the stone. It's about 1/2" wide and goes about 1/4" deep into the edge of the bottom. Is this something that can be lapped out with SIC powder? It seems pretty deep and knowing how hard ark's are, I debated on whether it is worth it to try and lap it out to have 2 useable sides. Any advice with this deep of a chip?

Without pictures..........

Can you lap it and then round the corners of the chip?

Only use the good side.

I'm thinking using one side is probably the easiest for sure. Here's a pic.

That is probably why that was the bottom.

Sure one side would be easier but if you lap that side the chip will get smaller round it and then if you hone from your thumb side you will probably miss it anyway.

treat it as a narrower hone.

Do you have the chip? If so, you can glue it on and lap it flat.

Otherwise, you can lap off a ¼ inch, but that is going to be a job. Lose 60 grit Silicon Carbide, from Got Grit.com is $4.40 for a pound.

If you like the finish from the other side, it might be worth the effort to make one side burnished and the other 600 grit for a nice finishing progression.

If it is a good stone, (it looks like an old one) I would do it, nothing says you must do it in one sitting.

Nothing like a good ark edge.

Originally Posted by 32t

...if you hone from your thumb side you will probably miss it anyway.

treat it as a narrower hone.

This is probably how I would use it honestly. I'd flatten the chipped side, and hone at the side opposite the chip. Maybe wrap some sand paper around a round pen and use that to soften up the edge around the chipped area once the rest was flattened. But just getting an Arkie flat is a chore in and of itself, no way I'd want to sit there and lap a quarter inch off. Nope, I'd just use it as is with minor surface prep.