Is this a "synthetic" Arkansas Translucent?

If there is such a thing. It's sold under the Norton name: Vintage Blades LLC::Sharpening Stones::Arkansas (Novaculite)::Norton Soft/Hard Translucent Arkansas Stone - HSB8

I ask because I'd sure like to get a hold of a natural one eventually.

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Originally Posted by rostfrei

If there is such a thing. It's sold under the Norton name: Vintage Blades LLC*::*Sharpening Stones*::*Arkansas (Novaculite)*::*Norton Soft/Hard Translucent Arkansas Stone - HSB8

I ask because I'd sure like to get a hold of a natural one eventually.

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Picture isn't clear but it most likely natural hone.
i would say if you like to get Arkansas you will have better chance buy from ebay.
i am not sure some people from srp were selling Arkansas if my memory still functions properly.
hope this helps

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Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Picture isn't clear but it most likely natural hone.
i would say if you like to get Arkansas you will have better chance buy from ebay.
i am not sure some people from srp were selling Arkansas if my memory still functions properly.
hope this helps

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Ah yes. I am still new here & forgot about the SRP classified.

The one thing about the translucent is that they say "very fine" but they are < 8K grit right? I would've thought that "very fine" would mean >10-12K grit

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Originally Posted by rostfrei

If there is such a thing. It's sold under the Norton name: Vintage Blades LLC*::*Sharpening Stones*::*Arkansas (Novaculite)*::*Norton Soft/Hard Translucent Arkansas Stone - HSB8

I ask because I'd sure like to get a hold of a natural one eventually.

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Call the vendor for details but I suspect is is a
glued combo. With modern diamond saws
and stuff it should be possible to slice and glue
two grades of Novaculite together...

Not an ideal razor hone and not ideal for
modern stainless knives but it should be
a good Arkie... and wonderful if you have
some older carbon steel kitchen knives.

I saw this mentioned on another forum. Anybody ever heard of these? What is the usual method of determing hardness/grit when you acquire your own stone:

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MINERAL I.D & DELUXE HARDNESS PICKS SET, YOU NEED IT.

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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...n#ht_522wt_911

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Originally Posted by rostfrei

I saw this mentioned on another forum. Anybody ever heard of these? What is the usual method of determing hardness/grit when you acquire your own stone:


eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

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Personally I think that is a waste of money for our application. Referring to honing razors. Maybe a "rock hound", as the guy describes in the auction, might need that but not 'us'. You determine how the stone performs by honing razors on it. At least that is what I do and most other guys I know. YMMV. :)

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Personally I think that is a waste of money for our application. Referring to honing razors. Maybe a "rock hound" as the guy describes in the auction might need that but not 'us'. You determine how the stone performs by honing razors on it. At least that is what I do and most other guys I know do. YMMV. :)

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Noobs like me would need a magnifier to look at the edge after honing. I'm not new to using straight razors but am relatively new to honing as all my SOTD arrived sharp & I have not needed to hone them much during their lifetime in my posession (long sentence :o ) I do strop religiously though.

P.S.- the link didn't work for me so I edited it.

The HSCS8 is a glued combination stone made of two natural slip stones. Grit equivalents don't really apply to arkansas stones, specific gravity is the main measure (plenty of threads on the subject here) and the grit equivalence is often misleading, especially with regards to the translucent whic is a fine polishing stone, but very slow indeed.

Regards,
Neil