Thread: Arkansas for the HADdites.

Here's an 8x2" trans (at least looks pretty trans to me) for $52 + shipping

True Hard Arkansas Whetstone for Sharpening Knives NIB! - eBay (item 110465068371 end time Jan-01-10 08:26:17 PST)

It looks quite thin though.


Or this place has 6x2 for $45+ship

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...il.html?s=AC66


Also that site pyment linked has a trip set of 6x2" for $37. It has hard black, soft and "medium" which I suspect is a hard white.

I've been using both for years. My pink translucent one looks a little prettier. I enjoy using the Surgical Black the most. With the ones I have, it's a close call which is better for razors. I have no clear preference between the two. On that basis, I would recommend the Surgical Black first (better pricing).

Hallsproedge has some 2x6x1" ones for around 45 USD +shipping.

hallsproedge.com they are great folks there you can call them and they have the best deals on arks. i just bought a 10x3x1 black and it is a real nice rock it does do better with oil than water. i found a mix of 1/2 and 1/2 mineral oil and lamp oil is the best it cleans up real good. and it is cheeper than the honing oil you buy. they have a lot of stones that have falws that dosent harm the performance and they will make you a deal on check them out .they have the best deals and free shiping on any thing over 75.00.

Originally Posted by JimR

If one were to be suffering from a debilitating disease requiring the constant infusion of new stones, would the Black or the Translucent Arkansas be a better treatment?

Functionally they are equivalent; differences in performance are due to variations between individual stones rather than coloration.

Translucents are available in more colors and color combinations. White, gray, red, pink, yellow, blue, purple, orange, red, and combinations of these are available in translucents. I've got a pink translucent with coffee and cream swirls that is quite attractive.

Thanks All! I talked to one of the makers and they said the same--the Surgical black is actually better for finer edges than the translucent. So Surgical black it is...maybe I'll pick one up next week in the States. Anyone know a good shop to pick up a Black Arkie in the SE KS/SW MO/NE OK area?

Thanks!

Jim
When you do get your stone give it a try as a water stone first, you might like it. Also if you have a diamond plate like a DMT or an Atoma try raising a slurry for sharpening, these stones can really come alive with a bit of slurry. If you start to use it as an oil stone, it is a done deal, it will always be an oil stone. If you start it out as a water stone you can always change it to an oil stone. By the way if you raise a slurry with a diamond nagura it can change the sharpening character of an oil stone too. Alx

I'm glad I discovered this thread as I too got a response from Rich as well. Very nice gentleman I might add.

Jim what size surgical did you decide on? 8x3x1 from my understanding is general preference here and Rich recommended as well.

Anyone here pick up an 8x2x1 or any size for that matter besides 8x3?

What do you guys lap the surgical with?

It seems most use Diamond lapping in general but that's beyond my price range. As it stands I use 400 Norton sand on my Norton 8k.

Originally Posted by Sticky

I've been using both for years. My pink translucent one looks a little prettier. I enjoy using the Surgical Black the most. With the ones I have, it's a close call which is better for razors. I have no clear preference between the two. On that basis, I would recommend the Surgical Black first (better pricing).

Hallsproedge has some 2x6x1" ones for around 45 USD +shipping.

Steven in your experience which of the two ( I know this is dependent on the razor ) which between the two produces a finer edge be it on carbon or stainless? How many strokes do you normally employ?

Based on the description they're both said to be extremely fine.

Many thanks gentlemen

Thank you, Thank you...I have to be careful what I say here...My posts are monitored...
Anyway, yes, I have much experience with Arkansas Stones...If anyone wanted info, You could pm me, and I'd be glad to share my experience with you fine Gentleman....

I need to talk more to the Miner's, they frown on lapping these things, especially with Diamond hones. I need to ask him how they feel about Wet/dry sandpaper....I have the 12x3x1's, the Tri Hone system, pocket hones, I have em all. I don't think that they are good for Straights, ast least not in the finishing aspect, they could be helpful along the way. The surgical black is the finest, but they rate it at 1k. I'd say it's more like a 4k IMO.....

I've spoke to the owner of the quarry in Arkansas, He claims, and as I now know. The Black is finer than the Translucent, contrary to popular belief....The Trans is rougher.....

Rich

Originally Posted by zib

Thank you, Thank you...I have to be careful what I say here...My posts are monitored...

Rich, just because your paranoid doesn't mean they ain't really after you so heads up. Kidding aside, glad you said that you don't think they are really good for finishing razors. Saves me buying Arkies. Actually I owned a Washita, a soft, and a black hard Ark back in the early seventies. Dunno what happened to them but they were Smith's and real good for sharpening pocket knives.

Talk about vintage versus current stuff, back in the '70s I read in some knife magazine that all the best Arkansas stones were quarried years before that. This vintage is better mentality isn't new and it isn't confined to hones. I guess it is the old grass is always greener thing. I'm tempted to get some good Arks to hone my pocket knives.

Originally Posted by SiRed8

...
What do you guys lap the surgical with?

It's been a very long time since I lapped my Surgical Black. If I remember correctly, I started with 120 wet/dry and finished up with ~600. If I ever lap it again, I'll use my DMTs. It's not too bad if it starts reasonably flat.

...
Steven in your experience which of the two ( I know this is dependent on the razor ) which between the two produces a finer edge be it on carbon or stainless? How many strokes do you normally employ?

My Surgical Black and Translucent are very close on carbon or stainless. I agree with mparker that individual specimens vary. I use my black more on either type of razor, but I'm not really sure whether it has to do with "feel" or edge. I just do 40-60 laps, check the edge; then check every 20 laps or so until it's done. I'll guess that it is usually done in 80 to 140 laps after the 1k. I don't go for a 100% finish though.

Based on the description they're both said to be extremely fine.

Many thanks gentlemen

Quite welcome.