Thread: Scored a 50 cent stone. Soft Ark?

I was at the surplus tool place again today. He's got a big box of stones for 50 cents each, mostly small, all salvaged from industry & soaked with oil. I got a couple small triangular cross-section stones for sharpening serrations. But then there was this big honker with the corner chipped off.

I can't pass up a 50 cent stone, so I bought it, lapped it, & sharpened a kitchen knife with it. It's finer than my homemade slate hones, but too coarse for a razor (except maybe bevel setting). It feels hard, but must in fact be pretty soft, because it was dished out on both sides before I lapped it. What do you think? Soft Ark? It seems a little coarser & more aggressive than my other mystery stone which most people here thought was a soft Ark, but definitely in the same ballpark.

when you look at the close up pic the garnets almost look like the belong to a coticule... but i dont think it could be one f you say its too coarse.

does it raise a slurry?

I think what you're seeing is remnants of oil that have penetrated the stone. That's why it's darker in the middle. (I'm not a very good photographer). The stone was dished out in the middle, so most of the stone removed during lapping came off the ends. I'm going to buy some oven cleaner & try to do a better job cleaning it.

Originally Posted by basil

when you look at the close up pic the garnets almost look like the belong to a coticule... but i dont think it could be one f you say its too coarse.

does it raise a slurry?

What does it mean if it raises a slurry? The stone I have is very similar to this one. Think it might be the same.

well johnny j you did score a great stone and it is a ark but its not a soft ark its a washita ark stone.( its a type of soft ark) a washita ark is a coarser stone ( a faster cutter)

Originally Posted by eleblu05

well johnny j you did score a great stone and it is a ark but its not a soft ark its a washita ark stone.( its a type of soft ark) a washita ark is a coarser stone ( a faster cutter)

I also think it is a washita. Nice score