Thread: Opinions on this Black Arkansas hone?

Today I was lucky enough to find this auction ending on a 'Genuine Black Arkansas hone.' Also lucky enough to get it for $25.

Genuine Black Arkansas Straight Razor Hone/ Stone - eBay (item 260594976048 end time May-07-10 14:37:36 PDT)

I was looking for a hone to touch up on a couple razors that have been going dull for awhile and want an alternative way instead of paste.

The seller predicts that it is at least an 8K grit stone. I went to the honing Wiki and was told that a touch up stone would be a finely grit stone - which I found to be a little vague. I would like a barber's hone but as you can imagine, they are quite hard to come by.

Will this stone do the job? Or should I recycle it through SRP?

I appreciate the help!
Brandon

First part of your question i got it second no.
Generally Arkansas stones are slow cutters. Some of them will do great work . if you want to use as a finisher just try it and see what happens.
Recycling didn't get it sorry

Try it and see what you can accomplish with it, as Sham said, they are very slow cutters, if it doesnt work for you resell it on the classifieds, there are plenty of knife and hone guys around.

The Black Arkansas or surgical black is supposed to be the finest, more so than the Translucent according to Jim Hall of Hall's Arkansas stones contrary to what you may read or hear. I have a full set or Arkies, I love them for knives, not for razors. I agree with Sham's comments above. They are slow cutters, and I have found mine to be inadequate for straight razor use, but that's me. I believe there are some members here who have used them successfully, older vintage Arkies are supposed to be better, However, I've heard this about every natural stone. I believe it to be the stone, not the age....

Agree with others… try it. You have to find out what the grit is and where it fits in to your line up. Lap it on sandpaper under running or lots of water, an ark will shred a diamond plate in no time. You can finish it on a good diamond plate or Ark Washita once it is flat. Use lots of water.

If you have to hog off a lot of material, the cheap diamond plates do that well and if you shred it, you’re not out much. Just make sure to dress the cheep diamond plate on some steel to knock off any big particles. I sharpened my garden tools. I suspect their quality control is not that of DMT.

Compare the stria to a known grit manmade stone, e.g. Norton or Superstone. All naturals are just that… natural and are not known grits. Trial & error.

I sometimes use a black surgical for finishing with great result. I have noticed some razors like it better that others. This new Clauss, i've been playiing with for example seem to love it... new, to me anyway.

Picked up another Clauss today & will post some photos of this score later.

Lap it & try it. It may be a finisher.

Marty