Let's Talk Arkansas Stones

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

  1. PickledNorthern

    PickledNorthern Fabulous, the unicorn

    Great post!
     
  2. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    The Surgical Black came in today! It feels really, really smooth factory finished and man it's got some weight to it. Compared to my same sized natural combo coticule, it's gotta be two to three times the weight easily. Kitchen scale is broke otherwise I would of measured. My SiC powder kit is lagged so now its just waiting on that and I'll be giving my razors a go on this stone. IMAG00013.jpg IMAG00014.jpg
     
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  3. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    That's a nice big looking stone. What size is it??
     
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  4. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Here's the surprise and punch line. 4 x 2 x 1/2. Didn't have a whole lot of wiggle room in the finance department and I've gotten confortable on the 4 x 2 allotment of space.
     
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  5. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Ok, the pictures make it look larger. 4z2 should work fine. Once you get to the level where you use the SB Arkie, it doesn't take much time on the stone.
     
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  6. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    I can't wait to use it. It's just the waiting game for the SiC powders to ship and get in. The waiting game. It's the bane of my existence. LOL!
     
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  7. Drygulch

    Drygulch Snowballs

    Same size as my translucent.
     
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  8. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    IMAG00015.jpg SiC powders came in and I immediately went to work.
    IMAG00016.jpg Here's the 600 side finished.
    IMAG00017.jpg And here I went up to 800. I might go 1200 after giving it a test hone on my near wedge razor. It really wasn't that bad. Took about an hour and half starting with the 120 grit. I thought it would be worse but that SiC made it not bad.
     
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  9. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Excellent news. Are you doing both sides??
     
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  10. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Both sides are lapped. One is finished to 600, the other 800. Didn't have any 1000 grit and didn't want to go to 1200 just yet.
     
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  11. twhite

    twhite Peeping Tom

    You can just get a beater razor and hone the heck out of it. That will get a nice burnish going for you.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
     
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  12. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    It's working good. Took my GD and made it sharper and smooth. My two smiling razors are giving me a pain as the middle sections are sharp. The toe and heel see giving me a hard time. Eh more practice.
     
  13. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    Just take it to the 1200, and spend a few extra minutes on it. It's not that big of a leap in grits.
     
  14. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Did just that. So 600/1200. Went back and worked on my rolling x stroke on those two smilers. Both feel even across the edge and sharp. Both cut paper without much pressure or a draw motion. This SB followed after the coticule seems to work nicely. Shave test tomorrow will tell more.
     
    Last edited: May 27, 2017
  15. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    I do have a question. After trying soapy water first then giving food grade mineral oil a chance, I find I like oil better on the SB. After a honing session, what's a good way to clean it and maintenance?
     
  16. DaltonGang

    DaltonGang Ol' Itchy Whiskers

    I just wipe the excess oil off, with a clean paper towel. That's it.
     
  17. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    Now that's simple. LOL! Sometimes I think too complicated.
     
  18. Zykris

    Zykris Well-Known Member

    After practicing on the SB, I find I like it very much. I'm thinking about picking up a Soft Ark and a Hard Ark. What's the experiences you guys have had with those grades?
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2017
  19. Beadog

    Beadog Well-Known Member

    If you like natural stones, a soft and a hard Ark will complete your set with the black finisher. They are not "must haves", as many stone combos can fill the gap between a bevel setter and a black/translucent Ark. I have set bevels with my soft Ark, but it is slow. Now, if you can find a good vintage "Ouachita" (sometimes spelled "Washita") stone, they make very nice bevel setters, prior to hitting the soft/hard/black progression. With those four stones, unless someone wants to hone multiple razors at a time, you are set with all you need. It is very hard to get a better edge than what you can get off Arkies, but you can certainly get easier and quicker edges with other stones, both natural and synthetic.
     
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  20. Billyfergie

    Billyfergie The Scottish Ninja

    Arkie Stones are Superb Finishing Stones..But..The Bevel & Progression has to be Bang on the Button or they Wont Work..They are So Hard that they Wont Forgive Errors..No Sir..Eee..:D

    Billy..:chores016:
     

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