i'm going to try this i found the trans ark to cut faster when it was rougher. ill keep the other side smoother
i lapped flat trans ark to 500 grit tried it out raised a swarf quickly. at that finish i very much noticed and liked that it had input as opposed to none on smoother side. then to 1200 grit side... finished very sharp and much faster than before it will be a day or so before decent test shave
any one have microscope images of razor's edge one image finished on a an ark lapped to lower grit another image with edge finished on same ark lapped to higher grit curious if there is dramatic difference
Please don't take offense, but this thread might as well be in Swahili. It's THAT difficult to follow. Yes, I know, I am a honing
If any terminology baffles you, please feel free to ask, or PM, any of us. Thats how we learn. Oh, I forgot to start, by saying "Jambo".
I have a “surgical black” in bound. Curious about surgical vs translucent I understand they are very similar, What are the nuances, character differences between the stones? Anyone using both? Comments?
From everything I have read, nothing different, ar far as what they can do. . Then again, a couple of sellers say the Surgical Black is at a higher polishing rating. The Transl, is much costlier, and looks better, if that means anything.
I may be off, but this is just my opinion. I have asked the same question before and never got a answer. The two stone are basically the same in characteristics and performance. The difference is light transmission. Light will travel thru the translucent, will not thru the surgical black. Thus is only in reference to vintage stones. I have no newly mined stones
I’ve read where some will what seems to me lap mindlessly on SB arks and trans. At what point does this high lap count exercise have a diminishing return? Those of you that lap on your burnished arks dry... is this and finisher? Pre finish? and what is comparison to finishing dry vs lube?
Black translucent ark? I got into a discussion with friend about them, he said there is a trans white and gray but not black...... he said that that is a hard black or true hard black or surgical black. On second thought black translucent is a bit of an oxymoron since black tends to absorb light...??? Quick internet search shows trans arks as white or gray stones with the rare exception and jarrod’s stones. went home and checked my trans convex ark from The superior shave, and a dan’s trans white/gray with flashlight. The black trans was slightly translucent when light shined from side. The white trans also .5 inch thick was easily translucent through .5 thickness. Asking the hive was there or is there such a thing as black translucent? or is that just A result of recent marketing?
Reached out to Arkansas expert who lives in arkansas...... “ pretty much a marketing ploy say in the 1950's.. Called it Surgical Black. Well.. the surgical black is just translucent with color.. same grit in it and same density...As the opaque translucent stone” This answered a lot of my questions. Now to test.
Good to know. That confirms what a lot of us have believed already. Best thing is, the Surgical Blacks are much much cheaper, and easier to come by, in larger sizes.
My next question is how a “true hard” ark fits in the mix, I’m told density is similar .... I recently acquired one, and will be testing it soon. @Zykris has a true hard, I think, any one else comparison, True hard to the more noble arks
I was aiming for a true hard but alas didn't acquire one just yet. True Hards, according to Dan's Whetstone, are also known as multicolored translucent. Tend to have the same density range as Translucents. I only have soft, regular hard, and now two surgical blacks. Still one day I'll get a true hard or a translucent to add to the matrix.
My Washita Family Portrait Did some housecleaning today so time for a family portrait of some of my favorite Washita’s. Have a few more but they did not make the cut. They are 3/4 to 1 1/4 thick and up to 9” long. At one time, easy to find at the markets but slowly getting harder to find quality rocks These three are my go to bevel stones. All are on the softer, easier to use stones These three are my oddities, two Woodworkers Delight and a combo Washita-India stone A pair of labeled No. 1 Quality Washita And my lucky to have babies, three Lily White Washita and a Rosy Red Washita. The bright white soft in the middle is used also on bevels
I've been seeing many dirty 6x2 or larger Arkie Translucent stones, for a decent price. Must resist. You guys still using your Arkies?? ..