As far as Arkansas stones go.....

V

vickmacky

Joined
Mar 11, 2010
Messages
206
....are Smith's good quality? I searched some but didn't find ans specific info about them. I have read some stones are made from compressed powder or something.
 
Can't speak for all Smith's Ark. stones, but I have the tri-hone model and I'll give my thoughts and experiences with it. For soft steels, ala 420, or simple carbon steels like Case uses (RC 54-57 as I understand it) they work well enough. My only complaint is, that I've only had them for a few years and they seem to have worn rather quickly compared to some of my other stones.

I even posted a thread not long ago regarding this. While they do load up pretty fast, that wasn't the issue since I've cleaned, brushed, and soaked them. It seems that's just the way it is. I can't say for sure whether they are made from compressed powder, but they could be, which would explain why they are a bit softer than my others and thus wore faster.

I've also noticed that the edges of the stone, where the last portion of blade before the ricasso makes contact, have rounded out and even chipped in certain spots. Again, this is with mid 50sHRC blades, something I think shouldn't happen this quickly, but that's just my opinion.

I was pointed towards Spyderco as an alternative, apparently they have good ceramics. While I haven't been able to afford those yet, I will say my Fallkniven DC3 stone has more than pleased me. Hopefully that helps some, again, just my opinions and experiences, yours may vary.


Gautier
 
Arkansas stones are good for sharpening kitcken cutlery and even some better knife steels . I'd stick with Norton Arkansas stones as their quality is trustworthy . However, if you haven't purchased them yet, I'd consider another type stone . AO, SiC or diamond as they cut quicker and can be used to sharpen harder/premuim steels . If you have already purchased them, enhance them with diamond slurry and it will bring them up to their best use . Washita and Black Hard grades are good . DM
 
Doesn't sound like you've made a purchase yet, but we don't know your budget either. Oil stones are ok, as these gentlemen have mentioned, and lots of knives get sharp with them. Three things I don't like about them. They are kinda messy, they cut quite slowly, and they wear pretty quickly. If I were on the tightest budget, I would get a coarse/fine DMT Diafold- I don't know, maybe $30? You will be able to use it for just about ever. You will want to get bigger stones, of course, but you will have the little Diafold for sharpening in the field, car, worksite, etc.

DMT stuff just plain rocks. Oil stones just plain don't so much, but they are darn inexpensive, and that can make a difference... and they will work.
 
I've got some from B&C abrasives and they are very good quality. Agree with myt132-cu concerning diamond stones. I have a course and fine from Smith's and they are extremely versatile, I use them for nearly all of my routine sharpening. That said, the Arkansas stones (in my experience) are very good at putting on a polished edge at higher grit ratings. My hard Arkansas puts on a better fine edge than my King waterstone at 6000 grit, and my soft Arkansas produces a finer edge than the Smith's 750 grit diamond stone.

With natural stones they're not all identical or uniform, there is definitely an element of chance involved in getting a really good one and they might require some lapping to be perfectly flat.
 
First off thanks for the replies, I guess I should have been clearer. I actually have a set of the Smith's stones but I was reading rumors of some manufactures using compressed powder for their stones and that true Arkansas stones are not quaried anymore. The only way to get real stones are to buy them second hand which I thought was weird. I ended up ordering some stones from here (I know I'm an impulse buyer:D) . I got a soft, hard and black benchstone along with a carbide for tough stuff. They're right in Arkansas and if anybody would have quality stones it should be them or Dan's Whetstone.

As to other methods, I have a DMT course/fine stone and I can say for sure that I dislike diamond hones. I guess since I learned with "natural" stones I just cant get the hang of diamond hones. I always end up marring the blade and I cant get it sharp/smooth for nothing. I do have a Spyderco double stuff on the way. I wanted to try their ceramic. But I just really dig the Arkansas stones. I can get a razor sharp edge with them with little effort and I just enjoy doing it, which matters most right.
 
Myt, Yes, I agree . Arkansas stones cut slow and are not hard enough to sharpen knife steels with vanadium unless you do the tricks I mentioned earlier . I use mine dry, nothing on them and this helps them to cut some faster. the tricks more so . Vick, I've spoke with Dan and he's very knowledgable on Arkansas stones and puts out a quality product . These stones are still quarried but the good ones are from the 80's-early 90's . The real hard black and Translucent are very hard to find today . It's these that are the best stones the others are softer . DM
 
David Martin said:
Myt, Yes, I agree . Arkansas stones cut slow and are not hard enough to sharpen knife steels with vanadium unless you do the tricks I mentioned earlier . I use mine dry, nothing on them and this helps them to cut some faster. the tricks more so . Vick, I've spoke with Dan and he's very knowledgable on Arkansas stones and puts out a quality product . These stones are still quarried but the good ones are from the 80's-early 90's . The real hard black and Translucent are very hard to find today . It's these that are the best stones the others are softer . DM
Click to expand...

I have found similar results. I find the oil just clogs things up quick but water gives some lubricity while still cutting effectively.
 
I have a smith arkansas stone and i combine with with a carbide quick sharpener, but i only use that when im out in the field. A carbide for the shape and rough cut, and the stone just to smooth out the edge.
 
I don't understand what your describing as a 'carbide quick sharpener' . Is this a sharpening stone ? DM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top