Thread: Can You Top This Huge Translucent Arkansas Hone?

I've got a 3"x12"x1" translucent with no inclusions. But it's not as pretty as that one. And yes it was hell to lap...

ah a lovely rock slow maybe but what the hurry? iam the master of slow

The knife maker guy in my neighborhood had 12x3x1 translucent when I was a kid. I wish I knew where it was now,

Here are some Arkansas stones I have. The big ones I bought in Arkansas at the quarry guy's shop.

8"x3x1/2 Translucent (norton brand)
10"x3x1 Black Arkansas
12"x4x3/4 Pink Washata

Nice trio of Arkansas stones, and larger than usual, too!
I tried another experiment with my large surgical black Arkansas, to see if I could speed up it's action. I rubbed it with a piece of coticule, put a thin slurry on it, and it did noticeably improve the edge of the razor I tried on it, in 100 laps. But, why bother with the Arkansas when I can get the job done faster with just the a coticule?

I didn't see the razor right away either.

Slow's not bad. Maybe I need an Arkansas. Do they work with water?

Arkansas stones can be used with oil or water, but once you use oil, you are pretty much stuck with oil. It is very hard to remove. And they are sooo slow.

and where/how did you get that beauty? That's a hone to leave out for company to marvel at.

Originally Posted by Croaker

I have decided that Arkansas hones are too slow and waste my time, but wanted to post a picture of this king sized example of a translucent hone. It was hell to lap, but works on knives and razors. Maybe a modern day Mountain Man would like this for his Green River or Bowie type knife. This is my last post about Arkansas stones, unless somebody can beat this one!

Awe...i hope this isnt your last post on the Arkansas stone.
That is quite a beauty, thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by Croaker

Arkansas stones can be used with oil or water, but once you use oil, you are pretty much stuck with oil. It is very hard to remove. And they are sooo slow.

I have several Arkansas stones, and a couple of them had been used with oil before I got them...I have managed to get all of the oil out of them by washing them in the dishwasher.

I put the stones in the dish washer by themselves on the top rack, and washed them on the soak and scour cycle that is best for pots and pans....I used plain old liquid detergent and when they came out, they were squeaky clean and work nicely with water again....(and they didn't even affect the next load of dishes! I was concerned since they were really nasty)

Originally Posted by Smokintbird

I have several Arkansas stones, and a couple of them had been used with oil before I got them...I have managed to get all of the oil out of them by washing them in the dishwasher.

I put the stones in the dish washer by themselves on the top rack, and washed them on the soak and scour cycle that is best for pots and pans....I used plain old liquid detergent and when they came out, they were squeaky clean and work nicely with water again....(and they didn't even affect the next load of dishes! I was concerned since they were really nasty)

Thanks for the tip! I will try it with a couple of grungy old stones that are too dirty to let near my razors.