What did Tennessee?

The same thing Arkansas...

What can I know about their stones?
I see them from $4-$25. What's the difference, how are they used, are they good? What would they be compared to?

Hey Rickboone...not sure i understand your question...
Are you asking about Arkansas stones? Different types, uses and grits?

Thanks,

Mac

Yes, that is exactly what I want to find out.

I look on websites and the same site has them from a fewe dollars to over 20. Still very inexpensive compared to others, but what of them? What are they good for, how are they used and why do they vary so greatly in price?

Rick
I have been using the Arkansas stones for years, since before the synthetic were popular. I use the Washita’s to bevel set and my 2 favorite finishers are a White Translucent and a glass smooth Black Surgical. Now keep in mind my stones are 30+ years old.

You can buy good, old Ark’s on eBay and antique stores at great prices, but you still, really don’t know what you are getting until you get all the oil off, lap it (prepare for a work out) and use it. I use them with water, and that is a whole other water vs. oil drama. They are just rocks. They get wet in the wild.

With any naturals you never know what you will get until you try it. The same stone may cut different from one side to the other.

I compare stria on the razor to a know grit stone. I don’t believe anyone can tell you that an X Ark is X grit. They are all different just like Coticules. My surgical black may be close to X grit, yours who knows.

Marty

Hey Rick,

+1 on Marty's post. I know i could learn alot from someone who's honed on Arkansas's for so long.

Some people only use Arkansas for knives and dont consider them suitable for straights...i can understand why...they are very slow and take alot of time to become proficient enough, to produce a truely fine shaving edge with. Also, sometimes they produce inconsistant results...again, i agree with some stones and straights there is variabitlity.

First i can tell ya what is generically suggested with regards to the various arkansas types and their uses with regards to razors...mind you this is from various sources ive read...also, i can give personal experiences as well...some may conflict with others, due to the differences in their individual stones.

Arkansas Types:
Washita/Soft arkansas (coarse), Hard Arkansas(medium), Surgical Black Arkansas(fine) and Translucent Arkansas(very fine). These natural stones are not measured by grit, but by their density or specific gravities...Surgical Blacks and Translucents being the ultimate densities.

Also, prices vary and are often different with the Arkansas due to a couple reasons: Quality and abundance...these stones are still being quarried and it is not likely that will stop in our lifetime.

I personally dont use the Washita/Soft Arkansas on straights, but i do use the Hard Arkansas with slurry to set bevels. I further progress to the surgical black arkansas and finish on the translucent. Note: Some people consider their surgical blacks to be finer than their translucents...again, i can understand why since i have some translucents that perform under the surgical blacks.

After i finish off the translucent, i can get a nice shave, but find myself always stropping on CrOx paste to bring the edge to where i like it.

Personally, i think these hones have fairly long learning curves and shouldnt be suggested for people just starting out to hone...unless they are as stubborn as me. :)

Many thanks,

Mac

I was figuring much the same that is posted as far as the hardness goes. Albeit no grit, it seemed the denser stones would be what a honer would consider polishers. Then, I read on to see (on stone sites) that IF they had to put a grit on them it would be between 600-1000. So, I was like, wow! That's (in razor world) considered coarse. Most of our finishers are 12000 and up-ish. 8000, what have you.
But, reading posts that people have and do use Arkansas stones for razors is a plus.

Are you using ONLY Ark rocks or do you put it on others as well? One of you said finishing on crox. What is your method and at what stage do you use your Arks?

Would you use say the Hard Ark to set the bevel then progrss to the other two?

Am I right to assume not to use the coarsest ark stone available? This one seems more for ax blades and tools.

This will be an interesting find, as the prices are way cheaper than anything else.

Oh, how do you create the slurry? Do you use a slurry stone? And do the stones need to be lapped when you get them?

Hey Rick,
Here are a couple charts, that may shed some light into the whole grit comparison thing...might produce more questions as well. lol
I can answer some of your questions...keeping in mind, that i consider myself proficient, but by no means a master at honing on Arkansas.

I generate slurries, on the hard arkansas, using a small diamond 1200 grit card...diamond seems to be the only thing hard enough to raise a slurry on Arkansas. As for honing method for setting bevels as well as progressions, feel free to pm me for details. It is an fairly long-winded procedure dependent on many variables.


Mac