Let's Talk Arkansas Stones

Discussion in 'Straight Razors' started by DaltonGang, Mar 17, 2017.

  1. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    What did you originally take the GD 66 up to, grit or stone wise?
     
  2. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    It was done originally with a coti.
     
  3. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    If your Coti isn't in the range of around 15k, then you might need to spend more time on the Arki. or, take it down a couple of stones, and work your way back up.
     
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  4. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Probably going to wait for the soft ark to come in and start from ground 0. The coti and I don't get along as well as the Arks. Lol
     
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  5. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I've never tried a Coti. I've learned on Welsh Slate Stones, and stuck with them. I then added a Surgical Black Arkie. I've tried not to go down the rabbit hole, with stones. But, I wouldn't mind a little more speed(cutting power), now and again.
     
  6. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Only types of stones I know now is a Belgian Blue, a Coti and now the Arks. I'm getting better results on the two Arks in the first few tries than I've done months of work on the Coti.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2018
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  7. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I'm a firm believer in learning each stone well, before moving on. But, since you spent a lot of time, with the Coti, and had little success, perhaps it is time to sell it. Just so you aren't tempted to backslide, and waste more time, in the future. BTW, I've heard several members here use nothing but Arkies, with great success.
     
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  8. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Might to look into doing that.:) Definitely enjoying the two arks and getting antsy for the other to join the family.
     
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  9. Shojo510

    Shojo510 Well-Known Member

    Speaking of soft Arkansas, Used my no name soft ark today to try and even out my bevel. Worked pretty well, I did try different techniques to increase cutting etc in the form of different slurries and strokes. All in all was good. Bevel evened out so I stayed with the naturals and moved to a nagura progression. Hey why not! Everything was going good until I accidentally killed the edge...Doh! Back to the middle and ran out of time... Has a nice frosted looking edge just not sharp...;)

    Progress!

    A pic of the soft Ark, nice stone. I was told It came from an SRP member a while back, no other info. :)

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Paul76

    Paul76 Well-Known Member

    a coti can be very finicky. My half hollows and larger grinds work very well on it, but only some of the quarter hollows take good edges from it. All of the full and extra hollows refuse to cooperate on the coti. There are also vastly different from one coti to another, more so than a lot of other naturals.
     
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  11. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    yeah, as much I tried I cant get em to work for me. The coti is a 4 x 2 x 1/2 naturally combined with the BBW camfered and leveled and the solo BBW is 6 x 2 x 1/2. Slurry stone as well. All came from The Perfect Edge. Loving not having to do slurries with Arks. That definitely wasn't an easy thing for me to learn to gauge during honing.
     
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  12. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    My Soft Ark will be here Monday or Tuesday. I'll get pics of the family when it gets in. I went back at the GD 66 and spent considerable time on the hard and surgical stone. It slices warm great. Took some long beard strands that were annoying and freehand cut those at about a 6/10. I'll find out tomorrow how that blade will hold up shaving. Fingers crossed!
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2018
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  13. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Well got some good news! After going back to the hard ark that was lapped 220 one side 400 the other, doing some stropping in the middle and then spending some quality time on the surgical, the GD 66 is back into action. The edge still needs a little work to get where I'd like it but it's a step in the right direction!
     
  14. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Should I spend more time stripping the blade to get it a little smoother or go for a little more on the surgical to refine the edge?
     
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  15. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Concentrate on the bevel, and when set, let the edge be as good as you can get, before the Surgical. The surgical will not correct any deficiencies, only enhance a near perfect edge. It's a very slow stone, but usualy not much time is needed. Only 30-50 strokes, on each side for me.
     
  16. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the advice! What grit SiC would lap a soft ark? I've read 80 on some sites but that seems a little excessive.
     
  17. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I used 600 grit on one side, and finished with 1000 grit on the other side.
     
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  18. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Is that the grits you used for all the arks?
     
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  19. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I only have a Surgical Black Arkie. I did one side with the 600 and the other with the 1000. I do own other Arkansas stones, but I have had them passed down through family, and they are between 40-60 years old. Ive only used them for hunting and kitchen knives.
     
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  20. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I believe others have used lower grits, and worked their way to the desired grit, to speed up the lapping process. Trust me, use lower grits first, and work up. Unless you want a workout.
     
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