Quote Originally Posted by Marshal View Post
Mention Arkies and we tend to pop out of the woodwork.

I've got a good number of the hones mentioned above. Jnat, coticule, slates, sundry barber hones, a PHIG and other Chinese stones, Norton 1, 4, and 8k hones, Shaptons...I've shaved directly (zero stropping) off every stone in my collection. Yes, this includes the Norton 1k and Shapton 2k. Each creates it's own unique edge. And that's something that's much harder to discern if you're chasing the edge with paste. As you discovered OP, pastes are not a necessity but some do prefer it. Nothing wrong with it, but the fact that it masks the edge created by a given stone is a big part of why I don't use them often.

Anyway, of them all Arkansas stones are probably my favorite. Using Norton hones for example, I use those almost exclusively for razors, and maybe knives if I feel like being delicate. But if I were to slap a chisel on them like I do my Arkansas stones, it would put a gouge in them with a quickness and scratch up the surface to the point I wouldn't take a razor to the hone without re-flattening the stone and washing a solid chunk of it down the drain every other use. Arkies are so hard that is NOT a concern. Water, soap, oil, knives, chisels, razors, just a plain stone or with slurry so you can use a Black or translucent from bevel set to final polish...the only downside is not having enough time in the day (or dull blades that need a touch up) to play with it all.

Good to see your post!! 100%