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?
Printable View
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?
What do you want it for?
Blacks are rated ~4k JIS.
Trans, it's probably safe to assume are 6k+. (Edit: they are rated as 950 at one retailer... ~5k JIS).
Blacks at least are typically oil-stone and not water.
Trans I'd assume the same, but don't know.
Blacks can finish a razor, but probably nowhere near the standard you're used to.
Trans are in the same boat, but a little closer.
I'm told that both are very slow cutters when used with razors... being oilstones, I can buy that.
*This is old JIS... I don't know how to translate it to new JIS. There are charts about that can though.
Ya know you're gonna buy both doncha ? :D
Jim, listen to Onimaru :)
And you'll need a Washita for bevel setting :roflmao
Ian, I see you're new here. "What do you want it for?" is a question that has NO ANSWER for the truly diseased. I want it because it is a rock, and I can rub a razor on it.
So I guess it's decided, as I'm a degenerate addict...anybody have a good (cheap) source for translucents? Woodcraft has a nice looking boxed set of three --soft, hard and black 6x2s--for $52...
That price can hardly get any better!
Except that they are quite small.
I'm still looking for a good sized black one as well.
Arkansas have some kind of charm I would not want to miss.
For certain steels they are just the perfect solution.
The translucent is supposed to be finer but Keith at HandAmerican uses the surgical black for his straights.
Refer to Dan's grading guide. Stones are graded by density.
Stone Grades 101
If I were you (and I am close when it comes to HAD), I would contact Dan (or Natural Whetstone Company Home Page, www.hallsproedge.comor other maker) and see if you can get him to sell you a high density stone with only one side finished and the other 3 left rough. Perhaps with a combination of colors. an irregular if you will.
Not that I have thought about this or anything.