Thread: Arkansas stone help

I also use A White Arkansas, and I think it is great for razors. People get caught up in hone or HAD and have to get coticles, thuringians and any other cool guy stone on the market..... But to be honest, you can get by with an Arkansas or a Belgium blue and be perfectly fine for a pittance of what people say "you have to have, to hone"....... I used an Arkansas and an Enders hone for years before finding this site... Now that I have a few extra bucks I have amassed the hone collection and am enjoying other stones, but if you are on a budget don't let folks talk you into buying expensive hones when you don't need them...

I would only use a black or trans ark for razors. I wouldnt bother with the others

I'm trying to work one of my Arkansas stones into my honing regimen. If nothing else, just because they are the red-headed stepchildren of the online razor-enthusiast community!

Are any of the softer ones suitable for bevel setting? I'd like to find a natural bevel setter so I can go "all natural." I have a very white one that I'm hopefully going to try this week. I'll report back on my findings.

I actually recommend a full set of Arkansas stones for any honing newb for a number of reasons:1. They are inexpensive.2. They work.3. They teach the patience that is ever so necessary in honing.4. They work.5. You can learn all of the various honing strokes and techniques without doing severe damage to the edge or spine.6. They work.

As Theseus says, they work! and the part about not doing severe damage is true too. They may be slow, but that also means you wont be grinding your blade into magnet dust in the process of learning.

Originally Posted by Jimbo7

I'm trying to work one of my Arkansas stones into my honing regimen. If nothing else, just because they are the red-headed stepchildren of the online razor-enthusiast community!

Are any of the softer ones suitable for bevel setting? I'd like to find a natural bevel setter so I can go "all natural." I have a very white one that I'm hopefully going to try this week. I'll report back on my findings.

They are the red headed step child becasue they are cheap and plentiful... No one wants to admit it is that easy.. The brass ring has to be rare and unattainable...

That being the case I wonder how the cheap and available PHIG, and many cheap and available synthetics have such a good reputation?

The reason they are the red headed stepchild of razor honing has to do with the speed that they hone. Many find it a waste of time to set a bevel with a washita when they can do the same job in less time with a synthetic. I have both a full set of Arkies and a set of synthetics. They both do the job and do it well, just at different speeds. And as far as finishing stones go, I've found no natural stone that can leave as good an edge on hard American steels than a surgical black/translucent Arkansas. Just my opinion.

Originally Posted by Wintchase

I also use A White Arkansas, and I think it is great for razors. People get caught up in hone or HAD and have to get coticles, thuringians and any other cool guy stone on the market..... But to be honest, you can get by with an Arkansas or a Belgium blue and be perfectly fine for a pittance of what people say "you have to have, to hone"....... I used an Arkansas and an Enders hone for years before finding this site... Now that I have a few extra bucks I have amassed the hone collection and am enjoying other stones, but if you are on a budget don't let folks talk you into buying expensive hones when you don't need them...

Originally Posted by Theseus

I actually recommend a full set of Arkansas stones for any honing newb for a number of reasons:1. They are inexpensive.2. They work.3. They teach the patience that is ever so necessary in honing.4. They work.5. You can learn all of the various honing strokes and techniques without doing severe damage to the edge or spine.6. They work.

I'm not a honemeister or a honeologist - but I agree. They work, they work well, and the edge of a Trans/Black Ark (when the previous steps have been done correctly) is simply sublime.

I have been sharpening knives for as long as I have been carrying them around (30 years now). I have used everything from India stones to Diamond grit to Ark stones. The natural progression to hone my own razors was imminent. I have several Ark stones I use for bevel setting and final finish. They WORK! Will there be people out there who say they don't? Yup, there sure will be. Facts a fact though. They work well. I actually have experimented with raising a slurry with a Diamond block on one of my Ark stones and then honing. Cuts very even and nicely. I then go to a Fine Ark (not sure what grit, but it reflects light with little porosity) with water and hone till the stone dries out. I then re-wet and run dry a couple times and then observe all the work under a 100X Mini Microscope. When all looks good, I go to pasted strop for about 60-70 laps and then off to plain leather for about 130 laps. Hair will then "ping" off the edge with little effort for the HHT. The shaves are quite nice as well. The hair "rolls" off my face and leaves a wonderful, smooth, irritation-free shave. They work.