I have a few Arkansas stones and a couple diamonds. I took one of my diamonds and a couple Arkansas stones and wet the Arkansas stones and rubbed the diamond on top. Wow what a difference! The stones were trued up nicely and it also cleaned a good bit of gunk off the surface as well. I did the Sharpie marker test on the edge and realized my angle was good on my stone.(Spine touching and edge touching at same time) I then stropped on my homemade paddle for about 100 (50 each side) strokes. Snatched a piece of hair from my wife's head (not too hip on that) and that sucker was popping hair and it was audible. This is one crusty old razor, but it works. ( Hoffritz New York made in Solingen Germany)