Thread: Arky Black Prep

Okay, so the standard line is to get a chisel and use it to prep the stone. what I am wondering is, can I do the same job with one of those 3" wide putty scrapers? I am thinking that, with the width of the scraper it will be easier to do the entire stone with each successive pass, and I am not worried about ruining the scraper, just getting my finisher ready for use.

Genius or jack-ass?

Pretty much anything hard enough will work, but unlike drill rod putty knives are soft metal so you'll likely wear away some of the putty knife if you use it on the stone.

Might work, but I have always used hard heavy carbon steel, Ax or hatchet head, large carbon kitchen knife or best, a large carbon steel cleaver? You can buy old cleavers cheap at swapmeet for a couple dollars.

The trick is to use heavy pressure to smooth the stone. Use a little soapy water or oil as a lubricant. Make sure to bevel the edges so you don’t slip and chip an edge.

Another benefit of using a large kitchen knife or cleaver is you end up with a super sharp knife or cleaver, both handy to have in the kitchen.

I use a six inch long piece of tool steel, one inch wide and half an inch thick. Allows me to use a great deal of pressure with allot of control.
For me this seems easier on the hands, can be used with either hand, and as long as this tedious job takes, that's a bonus.

Originally Posted by FranfC

I use a six inch long piece of tool steel, one inch wide and half an inch thick. Allows me to use a great deal of pressure with allot of control.
For me this seems easier on the hands, can be used with either hand, and as long as this tedious job takes, that's a bonus.

How long does this take?

Depends on how well you finished the stone, take it to 2k wet and dry. It should be smooth when you start burnishing.

You can always come back and do more.

I usually work the stone in half do 100 laps from one side from front to back, spin the stone 180 and do another 100, keep going and spinning, until the stone is super smooth. Probably 2-300 laps.

So it depends on what you are using, how wide and flat the burnisher is, how much pressure you are applying, (with a large knife or cleaver you can use both hands and apply body pressure) and what you started with ( how well you lapped the stone) and of course the size of your stone.

It a bit of work but once its done you never have to do it again.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Depends on how well you finished the stone, take it to 2k wet and dry. It should be smooth when you start burnishing.

You can always come back and do more.

I usually work the stone in half do 100 laps from one side from front to back, spin the stone 180 and do another 100, keep going and spinning, until the stone is super smooth. Probably 2-300 laps.

So it depends on what you are using, how wide and flat the burnisher is, how much pressure you are applying, (with a large knife or cleaver you can use both hands and apply body pressure) and what you started with ( how well you lapped the stone) and of course the size of your stone.

It a bit of work but once its done you never have to do it again.

Wow, thanks for the reply! I have tried a few straights and luckily they have been shave ready or done by a pro but I think I should stick with DE's as they have alot less maintenance and extra costs to deal with to get a whetstone ready to use or even a high grit waterstone. I was hoping to work with what I or purchase one stone for refreshing but I dont think cost wise it is something I want to get too much into to. I did like the idea but physically it is also harder for me to shave with a straight as I had eye surgery many moons ago that didnt turn out as planned so it is harder to see a straight on that side.

+1 to the description above.
The last one I did, a primitive Black form Dan's that's about 8"X4" took me about three hours to get it just right, and that's after a week lapping it flat and polishing to the 2K level.

I have been burnishing my translucent for years! Kitchen knives, pocket knives, camp knives, and more recently straight razors. I think it should only take a few hundred laps, as Euclid said above and if done right, to have a workable stone but then it just gets better with age.

U

Originally Posted by SirMike

Wow, thanks for the reply! I have tried a few straights and luckily they have been shave ready or done by a pro but I think I should stick with DE's as they have alot less maintenance and extra costs to deal with to get a whetstone ready to use or even a high grit waterstone. I was hoping to work with what I or purchase one stone for refreshing but I dont think cost wise it is something I want to get too much into to. I did like the idea but physically it is also harder for me to shave with a straight as I had eye surgery many moons ago that didnt turn out as planned so it is harder to see a straight on that side.

Well I don't agree with that. I only have one eye and I shave just fine with it, your just new and haven't learned to shave yet,, it comes too you. As far as being a lot of trouble to get a stone ready , just stick with synthetics or don't bother with the cost and trouble just send them out,,it not like you have to do it all the time ,, I have razors go as long as a year before needing honed. Learn your strop and they last a long time. Good luck. Tc