Let's Talk Arkansas Stones

I will be very interested in what you think of the Zulu. Keep us posted on that.

Tom


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Two more SB Arkie progression honed. Excellent results.
J.H.Obold & Co.


Griffon Cutlery.
The Darrow & Comstock Co. New London Conn

 

I love Arkie stones. It takes me about 1.5 hours to create a bevel, then progress to shave ready state (half of that time is spent on my soft Arkie, just setting the bevel). If I am in a hurry, I set a bevel on my 1K Naniwa Pro. I just finished an old thumb notch Solingen, and will give it a whirl at tonight's shave. Nothing beats an Arkie honing progression, if one has the time. Certainly not a good option for honing a dozen razors in an evening!

 

Assuming that's not a tiny razor, those are huge stones!

 

45 minutes to set a bevel? You, my friend, must thoroughly enjoy the process. Assuming a leisurely pace of a stroke (single lap) every 3 seconds, you're looking at 10 complete laps a minute x 45 = 450 laps just to set the bevel.

 

Actually if you don't mind lapping them I got a site that makes them rather affordable at this size.

 

Yes, they are large stones. That is an 11/16, full size SR.

 

Aye Kevin..I Personally Wouldn't Wanna Set a Bevel on Arkansas Stones..As We Speak I Am in the Middle of Setting a Bevel on a French Hard Steel Frame Back with Ruddy Chips On a Naniwa 1 K Pro Stone & I have Walked Away Twice..Doing the Bevel of this Razor on an Arkie Would be a Nightmare..

Billy..

 

Yeah, I don't do it often, but it is kind of satisfying to go from not cutting hot butter to shave ready on just a set of Arkansas stones. Most of the time, I just use the black Arkie for final finishing, and use the other two Arkies for other duties (not SR honing). With the dizzying myriad of stones available these days, both natural and synthetic, it is easy to forget that not too very long ago, one used what was available, and in my neck of the woods, Arkies were what was available!

 

If you have a nice edge and just dull it on glass or the edge of a stone, you can get a good, fresh bevel set on a soft Arkie in about 10-15 minutes. I would never tie into a rough, "auction site" edge on a soft Arkie. That would take hours!

 

Aye..That's what I was Talkin about..Restoring a 100 Year Old Hard French Frame Back with Chips Can be a Challenge on a Naniwa 1 K Never Mind Any Natural Stone..In Fact..I Need to Get a Heavier Naniwa 600 K Stone for Heavier Resto Work..A Naniwa Pro 1 K Stone Can Do it but Even they Can Take for Ever with an Old Razor that Requires a Lot of Steel Removed..

Billy..

 

Sometimes it is nice to just sharpen a razor with good geometry. Those restorations can be challenging and frustrating!

 

Here is the Froggie Frame Back..I Set the Bevel & Honed Out the Chips..Its a French Barreau Nantes 5/8th & a Rather Petite Design with Horn Scales..I will Put it through the Progression Tomorrow & Finish Her on an Escher Thuri..Its Tree Topping Hairs from this Naniwa 1 K Stone..I Just Bought this to Turn it Over..

Billy..

 

Looks sweet, Billie!

 

The Photo Doesn't Do it Any Justice..Its a Very Unusual Wee Frame Back..Its a Lot Smaller & More Compact that it Looks..

Billy..

 

I touched up 6 razors that were in my Second String (B List) lineup, last night. I just used the SB Progression touchup. Around 50 laps on the 600 grit side and 30-50 on the 1000 grit finished side. Very noticeable difference.

 

The SB Arkie progression turned this Very Good razor, to an Excellent Razor, in just a few strokes. I will also add, that I feel, with the SB Arkie set up as a progression stone, it cuts the laps needed by at least half. I have been doing 10-15 extra laps on each side, just for good measure, after they feel super sharp already. Just my observations.

 

This razor let me down. I think I might dial it back a few stones, then take it to the ARKIE. It delivered a near BBS shave, but something was just lacking, compared to the others. It remains a "Second Stringer", barely. Since it's Swedish steel, and very hard, it needs about twice the time on each stone(I just remembered).

Japanese 飛燕 HIEN 東京. Swedish Steel.

 

Are You Sure Scott..That is Swedish & Not Japanese Steel..Some of that Japanese Steel Feels Weird on the Hone..Its Ruddy Hard Some of it..

Billy..

 

IMHO It took me twice as long in setting a bevel on a Japanese vs a Swedish Razor .Some stuff stuff !