Thread: Question On Arkansas Stones

Originally Posted by DerekC

I recently came across a local vendor, not associated here, that offered honing services for razors. Just to pick his brain, I asked him what his honing progression was. He said he uses Nortons through 8k, then moves to a Chinese naturals for (roughly, I know) 12k and 15k, then a black Arkansas stone and finished with a Swaty.

??


I've been under the impression that:

A) Arkansas stones, although differing in density, only went to about 1500 in grit.

B) Swaty hones, despite generation (2 line, 3 line), were more coarse in grit than the PHIG or other Chinese natural stones, even though the PHIG cuts very slow.


I think I read somewhere that Arkansas Black Surgicals were the finest of the Novaculites, but would it depend more on the grit of stone used to lap the Arkansas?

The only question answer pair that is important here is: "How does it shave?".

If he uses Nortons down to 8K he is off to a very good start.

The PHIG, Black, Swaty sequence is going to depend on his hand
and technique more than the hones themselves.

To use all three seems odd but if the result is a good
shaving edge then what works works.

PHIGs as all natural hones vary in grit. If he has a good
one it will polish the cut surface left by the 8K Norton.

Novaculites are graded by density more than grit. The
quarts grains that are the foundation of the rock are all
about the same "grit". The density however invokes the
bed of nails effect and the denser the rock the less pressure
any one grain can have to grind into the steel. With use
a Black will have all the sharp tops of the quartz grains polished
and rounded. A black should be conditioned by rubbing with
a bar of steel after lapping (IMO&IME). My black is a great
hone. The initial saw marks made for a confusing start when new.
In my case I uses some 8K loose grit and an old knife to worry
the saw cuts away. At this point it polishes a lot finer than 8K loose grit.
It like all Novaculite hones does not cut steel like a Naniwa or Norton
it more burnishes and polishes once broken in.

A well polished Swaty is famous for maintaining an edge.

His process seems designed/ ideal for older and softer steel.
Hard steel like a Thiers-Issard or some of the New York
state made steel not so much unless the man has a practiced
touch.

I am optimistic about the result...

Again....
The important question is: "How does it shave?".