Hall's versus Dan's Arkansas stones

[kbuzbee]

Does anyone here have experience with both?? How would you compare them??

The most confusing part (to me ) is their listing of "fine-ness". While "officially" the translucent and black stones are listed as being the same, Dan's says the black are actually a touch finer where Hall's says the translucent stones are finer grit than the black. (and perhaps they are both correct for the stone they mine?)

But any opinion of either company would be great.

Thanks!

Ken

[SmooveRN]

Good question! I was wondering the same thing myself.

[sdsquarepoint]

Keith at Hand American uses Arkansas and sells many. He has much knowledge of these and uses them on straights. He is the one I would contact on this. Hope this helps. MikeB

[Russel Baldridge]

I've heard variations of this situation as well, and I think the prevailing answer is that the actual abrasives are the same size, but the grit in the translucent is a little harder and hones a little finer. but this is just hear-say.

I know most retailers sell their translucents for more than the black stones of equal size. but that isn't necessarily proof of anything, except that the prevailing belief is translucents are better.

[JGS]

Where are we talkin...on the grit scale, I mean; for these Arkansas stones?

[Russel Baldridge]

Most people say that they are comparable to 8k -10k stones, but they really don't produce a slurry to speak of, and cut very slowly, so they are not easy to compare to other stones.

And the novaculite deposits are becoming more and more variable in terms of quality and purity of silica (the grit in Arkansas stones), so that range may be dipping a little.

[kbuzbee]

And the novaculite deposits are becoming more and more variable in terms of quality and purity of silica (the grit in Arkansas stones), so that range may be dipping a little.

Story of my life.... a day late and all that.

Wish I could find one of the older ultra fine stones....

I will drop Keith a line....

Ken

[Russel Baldridge]

Yeah, best bet is to talk with the retailer, and get the story about where the stone came from, it's age, and whether or not it has been inspected under a microscope. The stones can have inclusions that are undesirable, so inspection under magnification would be a good sign that the retailer is weeding out the lesser stones.

But then again, that range is plenty good for razors. Especially if you have/get a pasted strop to further clean it up.