Black Hard Arkansas Benchstones

J

JohnMike

Joined
Dec 29, 1998
Messages
14
Does anyone know of a supplier of hard black arkansas benchstones?

What is the difference between black and translucent arkansas?

Thanks in advance - John

 
I think KnifeArt.com has some very refined high quality Arkansas (black and translucent) stones. I believe the translucent ones are even finer than the black ones, but I haven't used either one before (I've only use the hard white Arkansas stones).

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
Well first off, you can find all types of arkansas stones at www.woodcraft.com . I have loked at their surgical hard black arkansas stones in their store and it was very high quality. The face was perfectly flat and smooth, there were no marks in it from where the stone had been cut. It was about $40 though.I think it would be worth it.
Translucent stones are extra fine arkansas stones and are totally natural. They're alot more expensive because there isn't a wide supply of them like other stones that can be man made. They might polish to an edge even finer than a surgicle black arkansas will, but when you get to that point your dealing with an edge thats scary sharp already, and it will take a very good steel and alot of skill with the sharpening stones to make the difference show.
Hope that helps.

Oh yeah I just got my new catalog from woodcraft today. the surgicla black arkansas stones are- $43.99 for a 6"x2"x13/16" or $51.99 for a 8"x2"x1"
And the translucent stones are- $144.99 for a 6"x2"x3/4"-1" The thickness varies because its made form a natural stone.
Hope that helps.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
There is a larger question, do you really want an Arkansas stone? All of my natural stones, my translucent hard Arkansas, and my soft Washeetas (intentional mispelling due to profanity filter) have been retired to the garage. Now I use diamond hones and ceramic rods. I like the edge better and they work many times faster. I also have some Japanese water stones and some artificial silicon carbide and aluminum oxide bench stones that I use for special purposes, but I never use the Arkansas any more.



[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 09-06-2000).]
 
Good point, Jeff. I got my Arkansas surgical stone out the other day, and realized it had been several years since I had last used it. It certainly does polish up a blade, however. I really couldn't see much, if any, difference between finishing with the black stone or finishing with the black stone and then stropping.

I use diamond rods mostly; they are a lot faster, but do leave the blade a little rough, not necessarily a bad thing.

Walt
 
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