Any reviews on your new stone?
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Any reviews on your new stone?
Arks don't get rated by grit, they're graded by their specific gravity. They don't test every single stone - but they do test select stones from any given block of stone that's mined. The closer a stone's SG is to that of Quartz- the more pure (hard) it is and that's how it gets 'named'.
In general - all arks have the same size abrasive particles, what matters is the density of those particles in the slab.If I remember correctly - the average size of those particles is .01 mm or 10 um, which is about 1.2-1.4k in the world of grit.
A true-hard, black, or translucent can be an amazing finisher for honing a straight. Edges that I finish on my black Ark are outstanding - but all the groundwork has to be done impeccably.
I've never chipped a razor on a hard, black, or translucent Ark, and I have put a few razors over several different stones of those grades.
A regular hard Ark is another excellent stone for razors, but in my experience- they're better suited for use before a black or translucent.
While I've never chipped a straight on a soft Ark or a Hindostan, I've read it was a possibility. The recommendation was to hone the razor with a back stroke (like stropping) to eliminate the chipping. The alleged chipping was due to the lower density of the abrasive particles.
That's a really fine looking stone, I'm sure it'll serve you well. Lapping them is a bear of a task, but once you get the top where you want it, you'll be so very happy that you'll forget your arm is sore.
I'd like to hear, as well. I recently purchased a translucent Arkansas, and I think it's definitely a capable finishing stone. It's very slow and was a pain to lap, but I'm liking the results thus far.