Thread: French don't know nothing about Arkansas stone!!

Hello!

I recently found this honing stone in an antic market for a few euros and I' am a bit lost with such a variety of Arkansas stone.

Could you "light my candel"(french expression) and help me to identify it ?? What could be the grit?










Thank you!!

Looks like a Translucent Arkansas stone, suitable for razors, for final polishing.

Norton says about 2000 grit. Some others say 1200 to 1600 grit. Still some others say as high as 4000 grit.

its a translucent ark, its a finisher ark's aren't graded by a grit number their graded by Specific Gravity.

Once those are lapped smooth, they can be top-line finishers. They are slow, but they and their brother the surgical black can do a fantastic job. Nice stone!

Fantastic score. I know folks who love them as finishers. Slow but good so I've heard.

Thank you very much for your help and comments!!

I haven't tested it yet, but the previous owner used it with "honing oil", that's what the smell says actually!

Do you think I could use it with water now or I must use "oil" me too??

Actually the French use to own all of those stones! Arkansas was part of the Louisiana Purchase.
They may have just taken all the good ones before they moved out!(:-)

Gaillaume, I'm hoping gssixgunner posts on this thread. He has more time on an Arkie than anyone I know. Those that use them seem to advocate oil instead of water. I've only done a couple blades on one. The sharpness was all there, but not the smoothest feel I've had. 'Makes me want to go back and try it some more.

Originally Posted by guillaume

Thank you very much for your help and comments!!

I haven't tested it yet, but the previous owner used it with "honing oil", that's what the smell says actually!

Do you think I could use it with water now or I must use "oil" me too??

I'd stick with honing oil. They (Ark's) really work best with it.