Thread: Arkansas translucent stone question

I've been meaning to try diamond paste on my hard black arkansas stone. It gets a razor sharp edge on its own, I'm talking woodworking sharp, I've never tried to shave with a straight razor honed on it. But I've had such good results with Nortons that I stopped using my arkansas stones all together. When I picked up straight razor honing, I just went straight to my Norton stones. But I keep meaning to get some diamond paste and use it on the arkansas stone. I know of some master woodworkers who use that method to get an ultimate edge on a chisel. Has anyone compared the edge gotten on finishing a razor with diamond paste on a hard arkansas stone versus CrOx on a strop?

Originally Posted by MinATX

Has anyone compared the edge gotten on finishing a razor with diamond paste on a hard arkansas stone versus CrOx on a strop?

I haven't tried it on a stone. I've had real good results from diamond spray on felt and from diamond paste on balsa wood. Robert Williams, the razor maker, experimented with diamond spray on a Spyderco Ultra Fine and got real good results. Might do well on a black hard ark too.

Originally Posted by MinATX

Has anyone compared the edge gotten on finishing a razor with diamond paste on a hard arkansas stone versus CrOx on a strop?

If you are refering to any hard Arkansas stone for razors that even differences between various Translucents will give different results. The surface needs to be very fine for the best results on razors. Take that with a grain, but playing with slurries and CBN which is similar to diamond spray, only my densest and smoothest translucent gave me the best results. I have heard of others achieving the same with the black Arkansas stone on razors with diamond spray and CBN too.
I think the comparison to CrO would be hard to make as they are different. The comparison would be more to how it compares with other finishing stone IMHO as you are still honing and not stropping.

when using your translucent you will get the best edge the stone will offer when using it with honing oil after my norton 8k i go to my translucent i do 100 round trips on the stone check the edge depending on the grind of the razor you'll fall some where around 100-200 around trips on the stone the edge from a translucent will feel different to some people it depends on your face i have a thick beard so i like very hard coti and translucents the feeling i get when shaving from off my translucent feels like i honed the razor on a hard coti and stroped it two to three times on chromium oxide heres a pic of my translucent next to a surgical black ark

I think arkansas are great and i've used soft hard and surgical black for years and yes they're slow compared to some other stones but faster when used in progression,i finish on the black till popping hair and the edge is super smooth for me but lately i've been stropping with .1 micron iron oxide and it makes them just that bit sharper and even smoother,the only way to know if you like the finish it gives is to try it but i have found that the more you polish the edge with them the smoother they get and it's something else i've been working on as i'm finding each time i touch up a razor and get more polish it's making a difference,i'm interested to know what you think of it once you try it my experience is mainly with the three stones i have now eleblu is the man with collection and would know more about them

Thanks for replies,
the hone looks flat but what is the best way to lap an arkansas? I usualy lap my stone on 320grits norton wetpaper. I'll buy some honing oil and give it a try.

Like any other hone, I draw a pencil grid and lap in the kitchen sink under running water. I use a DMTXX 120 diamond plate or a DMTC 325 plate but 325 grit paper would work on a flat surface.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

... I may be wrong though, I was wrong once before.

I seem to recall that time Jimmy - I think my grandad recorded it in his diary along with something about a place called "Wall Street" and a terrible crash or something...

once a surgical black or translucent ark is lapped flat, other folks would recommend finishing them with a much higher grit paper than 120 or 325, or to break them in well with a kitchen knife. the surface of the stone will become even smoother, and will cut more finely as a result.
the same advice is given for charnley forests which, like arkansas, are also made of novaculite.
this isnt coming from experience but i believe it to be true.

Originally Posted by ezpz

once a surgical black or translucent ark is lapped flat, other folks would recommend finishing them with a much higher grit paper than 120 or 325, or to break them in well with a kitchen knife. the surface of the stone will become even smoother, and will cut more finely as a result.
the same advice is given for charnley forests which, like arkansas, are also made of novaculite.
this isnt coming from experience but i believe it to be true.

+1, I spent a lot of time smoothing out one side of the one I have been using and it really makes a huge difference, comparing it to the other side it feels to the finger as smooth as glass and as opposed to a bevel with plainly visible scratch marks it leaves a sort of hazy, mirrored finish, and you can really feel the difference in the edge. I have started smoothing out the other side as well, but it's not something I would want to do all at once...these stones are hard as all get out.