Thread: Arkansas hones

So this is a question for those the have full set of arkansas hones. I have a full set but have only used my surgical black to hone razors. So I was wondering have you ever used just your arkansas hones to bring a razor to shave ready? What stone did you set the bevel with? How long did it take you? Oil or water?

I've done a full honing using nothing but Arkies a few times. It takes quite a bit more time than using synthetics, but not so much that it wouldn't be worth doing. I start with a low grade Washita to set the bevel. From there I move on to a hard white Arkie and then A much finer Washita that I have. After this is the surgical black or translucent. I never count strokes when using Arkansas stones as I've learned to advance by feel of the razor on the hone. I also always use oil, either sewing machine oil or Smith's honing solution.

well when i frist started straight razor honing i used a ark progression. i set the bevel with a indian stone w/oil then washita soft hard and then translucent. you can set a bevel with a washita or a soft ark but you have to prep your hard stones so they are wore in to provide the best possible edge.

Thanks guys! I didn't want to get into a complete honing marathon trying to get the arkies to work but sounds like it shouldn't be to bad. I like the edges off my black so wanted to try a full progression. Also deciding if I need to start on my washita or soft ark i wasn't sure. I think my hard should be pretty broken in from doing other blades or should I give it a good lapping to give a fresh and/or more polished surface.

to prep a hard or translucent/surgical black i lap them with a 325 dmt(use water) after that i use a 3x1 translucent pocket stone to rub down the stone to smooth it over(use oil ) for the last step i use a steel block(or a knife ) and rub the stone until there is swarf all over the stone(use oil) i repete this three times to get the broken in feel after this process the stone should have a smooth reflective surface and will deliver the best results thats with in your stone ability.

Cool thanks for the info

I sharpen ("bevel set" for the pretentious) my razor on whatever is handy, but a soft Arkansas stone will do. I then hone it on a hard Arkansas stone. I usually use them dry.

The entire process usually takes about five minutes.

This may be completely irrelevant but the other night I sharpened my pocket knife which I carry all the time. I didn't use any kind of progression. I did the whole thing on a Norton Hard translucent pocket stone. Started with some circles and pressure, then moved to regular strokes using lighter and lighter pressure. With pressure I got swarf right away and made a nice sharp bevel. Then I used little pressure with alternating strokes for a while to polish.

Nothing to do with razor honing, but I was impressed with how fast the stone was able to work. It just required a little pressure.

Michael

Yea they are nice stones been using them for awhile for all different knives. Just had not used them really for honing razors cause of some threads I had read when I first joined this site. But after getting other stones and learning them found I really like my arkies better and would like to use them. Hence the start of this thread.

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Nothing to do with razor honing, but I was impressed with how fast the stone was able to work. It just required a little pressure.

Michael

at this time, with my current ability to sharpen knives, i prefer very hard stones for knife sharpening as soft stones and pressure dont seem to work well together, and i tend to sharpen knives with some pressure.