Best price on translucent arkansas

Fish30114

Fish30114

Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
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I am wanting to get a larger format Translucent Arkansas stone--something like in the area of 8x2x1/2, and although I typically don't mind paying a good buck for high quality tools--which I place this in the class of--but the price at Dan's Whetstones is just a little off-putting. I was hoping to stay in the area of under 75$ if possible.

All tips appreciated!
 
Fish,
I use Arkansas stones a bunch and my suggestion for a hard translucent would be the 8x3x1/2 stone. I have stones from several different vendors but none have equalled my Norton's. I buy mine from toolsforworkingwood.com.

Chris
 
Dan's Arkansas stones and the Norton are of good quality. These stones have gone up and a well finished Translucent stone will run a hundred or over. Buy with confidence and not regret. DM
 
David,
Actually you can still get a fabulous hard translucent Norton stone brand new for about $75.00 ish. Many people like the stones from Dan's and I have some, but mine don't please me near as well as my Norton's...YMMV.
 
If your not dead set on a translucent Arkansas stone the Spyderco Ultra fine is a better alternative and only around $50.
 
fsatsil, I already ordered a Translucent Arkansas in 8x3x1/2 from the site that Cluttrell listed in his post, but as I said I like good tools, so I will check out the spyderco stone you referenced too!
 
Fish,
I think you are really going to like that stone! I have a Washita, several of the soft and hard, translucents plus a 8x3x1/2 Norton black and if I had to give all of them away except one, it would be a hard choice between the Norton black and translucent.

Chris
 
I just picked up a Dan's 4x2 translucent for under $16. Guess I'm just bragging at this point since the OP already found one.:p
 
Dan's site sometimes lists seconds. I too think the Spyderco white ceramic stone is a good stone and will cut most any steel quickly. I as well own a Washita, white soft, a couple Translucent and a couple black. I probably like the Washita the most. DM
 
How are the feel of translucents compared to the black arkansas stones? I love using my trihone from Dan's whetstones for carbon steel knives and SAKs. Even when I have nearly a full set of good quality Japanese waterstones I still love using the Arkies for the kind of knives I mentioned.
 
Bladenoobie,
My translucent gives me much more feedback than my black when sharpening. It is probably my favorite stone because of that reason. This stone will hone and polish. My black is a little finer both to the finger and to the steel. Very little honing but it polishes well. The GOOD black stones are getting more difficult to find and they bring a big price. Could I get by without my black...yes, but I'm glad I bought it because it is top of the line in quality and it is a little finer than my translucent. I hope that answers your question.

Chris
 
My black arkie is supposed to be of the "surgical black grade" and is fairly dark and gives a good polish. Getting a translucent stone isn't my top priority at the moment but if I even have some excess funds I really would like to try one.
 
Hell brother that's worth shouting about!
Spoiler said:
I just picked up a Dan's 4x2 translucent for under $16. Guess I'm just bragging at this point since the OP already found one.:p
Click to expand...



And Bladenoobie, I agree with Cluttrell's assessment of the translucent vs the black Arkansas stones. I have a couple smaller translucent stones, and I just really like the feel and finish I get on my blades with them.
Cluttrell I'm looking forward to this stone coming in, I appreciate the lead on it.
 
Fish30114 said:
And Bladenoobie, I agree with Cluttrell's assessment of the translucent vs the black Arkansas stones. I have a couple smaller translucent stones, and I just really like the feel and finish I get on my blades with them.
Cluttrell I'm looking forward to this stone coming in, I appreciate the lead on it.
Click to expand...

Fish,
Let me know what you think of that stone once you get a chance to try it out.

Bladenoobie,
My Norton black is a "get in the closet and turn the lights off" black. If you get a chance though try out a good translucent!

Chris
 
I would not go with an oil stone at all, and here is why. My whole life I have been using oil stones, as my father taught me. So, as I got older and made more money, I purchased the best arkansas stones money could buy. I even had a custom stone made. As I was researching oil stones, I came across information about water stones and japanese tradtional knives. (www.korin.com, chefsknivestogo, etc).

I took a chance and about 5 years ago I got a norton water stone - primarily to sharpen my fillet knives. Since then I have used my water stones. I got videos on sharpening, spoke to the knife master at Korin (Purchased a bunch of knives there too!) - let me tell you that sharp does not describe it. These knives sharpened with a water stone were so sharp my razor felt dull.

I now have norton stones in 220, 1000, 4000, and 8000 grit, and a japanese 10,000 grit water stone (synthetic), stone fixer etc. I can make a dull knife a razor with a mirror polish in about 10-12 minutes. I am not kidding. Check out korin on youtube they have a whole tutorial.

The point is that tonight, I was lazy, had a couple new knives and pulled out the translucent ark stone. It is a top quality stone - highest grade.

NOTHING COMPARED TO THE NORTON! The thing felt uneven, could not put the same mirror, I could get a burr but it was harder to get to and it just is not as good a stone.

My $0.02: go with a water stone, never look back. BTW: strop with a stack of newspaper, that is what the knife master at Korin taught me and it is better than any piece of leather!
 
Cluttrell, I wanted to give you some feedback on this stone. I tried to send you a PM but the system said I was not authorized to access the page when I clicked on 'New Private Message' maybe since I'm just a basic member I can't PM?? At any rate, I like the stone pretty well. It is not quite as smooth as my smaller translucent ones, but it is fine enough. It comes ( as you may know) a plastic case that it sits in well while using. It was definitely a lot cheaper than a Dan's Whetstone model. I'm still wanting a large format Black.

Thanks for the referral.
 
Tackdriver, I appreciate the input. I actually have a good array of actual Japanese waterstones. They do work well, I actually go through phases where I like working with them, and phases where I like to use my Arkansas stones. I use them with honing oil. I recently bought a KME sharpening system-I'm actually pretty good at freehanding, but I like something that holds a certain angle pretty easily from time to time, and the KME does that, and is actually fairly quick. I also have a Ken Onion edition Worksharp and with either of these systems I find myself doing touchups with the leather belt on my belt sander or with my Arkansas stones, both to good effect.
 
Fish,
I'm glad you like it! It will get smoother with use and yes I know about the case. Happy sharpening.

Chris
 
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