Black Hard Arkansas Stone?

I recently bought a Black Hard Arkansas stone and was curious what is the grit size. How do you figure this out? Experience? Comparing to known grit stones? It seems to put a polished edge on my razor but I'm not sure if I need something higher in grit to finish the razor. Under 60X microscope it looks better than my HSB & Co.'s OVB dry barber hone.

On a side note, does barber stones need to be flattened ... if so, what is the best way of doing that? Also, since I have not flattened the hone, would that be why the Arkansas stone makes the razor look better?

You should be able to finish a razor with the black Arkansas stone just remember they are very slow. You can lap a barbers hone with a DMT diamond plate. I dont assign grit ratings on naturals, the best test is the shave.

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You should be able to finish a razor with the black Arkansas stone just remember they are very slow.

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So ... 100 laps wouldn't be outta the question? Assuming that the bevel has been set correctly. :D

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You can lap a barbers hone with a DMT diamond plate.

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Would a 2500 grit wet/dry sandpaper work?

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Originally Posted by mhenson

So ... 100 laps wouldn't be outta the question? Assuming that the bevel has been set correctly. :D
Would a 2500 grit wet/dry sandpaper work?

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You cant go from bevel setting to the black Arkansas, you need a couple different grit stone in between. Sandpaper will work but i would start at a lower grit paper and go up!

Of course ... I didn't mean I would go from 1K to Arkansas. I was only curious if it could be used as a finishing stone.

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Sandpaper will work but i would start at a lower grit paper and go up!

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What would be the transition of sandpaper? would 2500 be a finishing grit or a starting grit. I would think either a finishing grit or close to it. However, I couldn't see going down to a 400 to start. :D

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Originally Posted by mhenson

Of course ... I didn't mean I would go from 1K to Arkansas. I was only curious if it could be used as a finishing stone.



What would be the transition of sandpaper? would 2500 be a finishing grit or a starting grit. I would think either a finishing grit or close to it. However, I couldn't see going down to a 400 to start. :D

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Perhaps lower like a 225 wet/dry sandpaper and go up!

Get a cup of coffee when you start to lap the black Arkansas. You'll see why "hard" is a part of the description!! :D :gl:

Regards,
Howard

I don't usually lap barber hones unless they are really dished. IME, years ago, barbers didn't lap them. I think washing them with a nylon bristle brush and trying them is your best bet. I lay a straight edge on them to check them first. If I do lap them I used to use a 325 diamond plate but went to 120 (DMT D8XX) to save a lot of time. If I was going to lap a barber hone with sandpaper I would start that low and work up to get it smooth as possible. 1k sandpaper would be as high as I would go. YMMV.

The hard black ark has been good for me with an already shave ready razor. Improving the edge I mean.

Silicon Carbide powders on glass lap anything in reasonable time. Wetndri is made of the same stuff so that's ok too but if you start low, like 80 grit, the paper has a bit of give that is not so conducive to flatness.