?'s using Lansky Arkansas stones

[cnm123]

My question is where do they fall in line w/ the other stones?
I've used the original 5 with decent results.
I recently got the sapphire for the polished edge look.
I've gotten a couple diamond (ex. coarse and med.) and will probably get the fine.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Arkansas stones are generally less aggessive than all others, like the standard Lansky corundum (aluminum oxide) stones in the XC/C/Med grits, or the ceramics like the Fine/UF standard hones; and especially less aggressive than the diamond hones. This means the Arkansas stones won't cut the steel as deeply for a given rated 'grit' (Coarse, Medium, Fine, etc), so the finish from them will be comparably finer than the others at a same rated 'grit' level. If you're using or trying all types, you'll have to see how they compare in finished results. But, from a standpoint of fitting them into a grit progression (I don't really recommend mixing them though), I'd likely put them in an order like this, from coarsest to finest:

Diamond Coarse & Medium > 'standard' corundum XC, Coarse & Medium > Arkansas Coarse & Medium

I left out a few, like the finer finishing stones, because it's a little tougher to gauge where they'd fit. Depending on the steel sharpened, you might find a Fine diamond to be comparable to either of the standard Corundum Coarse & Medium hones, and you might see similarly comparable results between the ceramics (Fine, UF & sapphire) and the finer Arkansas stones. As a general rule, you might reserve the Arkansas stones for less wear-resistant steels like 1095, CV, 420HC, 440A, and use the others for more wear-resistant steels (440C, 154CM, maybe up to D2 and ZDP-189), with the diamond hones being best for very wear-resistant steels with heavy carbide content (D2, ZDP-189, S30V, S90V, etc).


David

 

[fvdk]

Like David said, the Arkansas stones are less aggressive and give a finer finish than the Diamond and Aluminum Oxide stones of the same grit rating.
The Black Arkansas gives a finish that is comparable to the LS2000 Sapphire.

 

[cnm123]

Basically, I'm having a hard time sharpening s35vn.
it's fine up till the 600 fine oxide stone.
then I just get nothing.
I've really cleaned the stone and it seems to feel better.
This morning i got a burr off the med. diamond then also the med. oxide.
I was thinking Arkansas might fall in between med. and fine there somewhere.

thanks for the info guys.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Basically, I'm having a hard time sharpening s35vn.
it's fine up till the 600 fine oxide stone.
then I just get nothing.
I've really cleaned the stone and it seems to feel better.
This morning i got a burr off the med. diamond then also the med. oxide.
I was thinking Arkansas might fall in between med. and fine there somewhere.

thanks for the info guys.

If the Fine synthetic stone (600 ceramic) is having some trouble, the Arkansas stones won't do any better; with that steel, I wouldn't bother with them at all. In order to get the most out of the 600 (and the 1000 & sapphire), make sure you take the previous stones as far as possible in refinining the finish. S35VN has some vanadium carbide content, so the 600, 1000 and sapphire ceramics will still be a bit short of the best polishing option; diamond hones at ~1200-grit and/or diamond stropping compounds down to 3µ and finer would take it further in polish. I don't think Lansky has a diamond hone that fine, so the stropping options with diamond compound may be the best shot. A hard 'strop' of paper affixed over one of the ceramic hones, with some diamond compound, could work well for polishing.

If you're not pursuing a perfect mirror polish, then you should still get pretty good results (for sharpness) out of the 600, 1000 and sapphire hones, so long as all the prep done beforehand with the coarser & medium stones is taken as far as possible.


David

 

[fvdk]

If the Fine synthetic stone (600 ceramic)

For what it's worth.... since at least a couple of years, the LS600 is also an Aluminum Oxide (orange in color). The 600 ceramic (purple in color) is no longer being made.

Frans

 

[eKretz]

I would steer clear of Arks for steels containing any real percentage of carbides - especially the Vanadiums.

 

[Skeptic13]

I purchased a Lansky several months ago and have used it with good success. This post however really increased my understanding of this system. Thanks.

 

[cnm123]

If you're not pursuing a perfect mirror polish, then you should still get pretty good results (for sharpness) out of the 600, 1000 and sapphire hones, so long as all the prep done beforehand with the coarser & medium stones is taken as far as possible.


David[/QUOTE]

This.
It took a while but I won.
A little more work w/ the diamond and 280 medium and got a nice even burr.
It was a matter of cleaning the 600, it had gotten a little clogged up i guess you could say.
Worked that for a while, and voila a sharp usable edge.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

This.
It took a while but I won.
A little more work w/ the diamond and 280 medium and got a nice even burr.
It was a matter of cleaning the 600, it had gotten a little clogged up i guess you could say.
Worked that for a while, and voila a sharp usable edge.

Good to see it worked out. :thumbup:


David

 

[deltaboy]

I used them for years with my old Timers and other 1090 Steel bladed knives. I don't have any wonder steel knives so I fine with them.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I would steer clear of Arks for steels containing any real percentage of carbides - especially the Vanadiums.

This.