Surgical Black Arkansas - Translucent Arkansas - Question I Have Both Now

Yup, you're certainly right there, Kevin. :D One of these days I'll get in an experimental mood or frame of mind, and instead of having to order new stones and wait for their arrival, I'll just grab my Arkansas stones that are already here and start experimenting around. It is all good! :D
 
You guys are funny. Kevin, what steel is the folder you showed 1 page back? A 3X10 is a nice size stone. Keep that girl. Thanks, DM
 
That is 1095. Most recently I have been using my translucent on a Great Eastern Cutlery folder with O1. I could not be happier with my results.

And your welcome Dave.
 
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I thought you guys might like to see this 100x microscope shot. O-1 steel finished on my translucent. Stropped with a linen strop and powdered compound. It really just removes the burr, not much more, which I like. On the top left that is extremely fine hair for reference. This edge is newsprint push cutting with ease sharp and tree tops hair. All while have tons of micro serrations and lots of bite for push and draw cuts. I put the pointer of the microscope on the area in focus. The rest gets a little distorted. This is on the belly of my knife and it has been used a little since my last touch up. I lit it up with a flashlight at an extreme angle to exaggerate the grain with shadows for the photo.

I was going to take a picture through the microscope of an edge off the leather belt with greased compounds for comparison, but its a pain to get these shots with my cell phone. Just imagine PERFECTLY SMOOTH. I was surprised. These are the first views I have had at 100x.
 
I got the new stones in the mail yesterday and finally had time to open them up today. Here is a cell shot of my translucent group :)

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I did one quick mod to the leather pouch to make it MUCH nicer

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Here is the latest O-1 steel knife I have been using with it. According to the manufacturer most come back right at 59RC.

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In the pic The edge has seen about a week of pretty heavy use. Just about 3 runs per side on my linen strop and it shined it right up and has it popping hairs.

Thanks again to everyone that helped me get to this point. I could not have figured it out without you all :)
 
Rich, Those are very nice Arkansas stones. The Sod Buster is too. I don't see them with a lanyard much. Nice photo of the edge. Makes me want to go do some sharpening. I've noticed 01 is very forgiving during sharpening and takes a good edge. Thanks, DM
 
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Thank you David! The new ones are even more translucent then my original one. I held them up with backlight and it went right through!

They all feel the same to the touch though. I would say I'm set for life now.

You were a huge help!

Btw, here is a link for the sodbuster http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ot-Bull-Nose-Work-Knife-quot-*Updated-Status*

If you are interested they are planning another run in about a month :)

I'm looking forward to that.

Edit to add - I 100 percent agree about O1
 
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Your welcome. I have 2 Translucent Arkansas stones a 4"X8" and a 2X4" both are more beige with just a touch of pink in it. Whereas yours are a nice opaque, near white, stones. I can see why you enjoy using them. When I stare into mine there almost seems to be movement just under the surface... Enjoyable. To me the trailing point is a great shaped blade. DM
 
There sure is a lot to be said for what the appearance of the stones adds to the experience. There is a lot of depth in all of them and tons going on through the stones that I didn't catch in these pics. Really lots of tones and striations. Just crazy in person. Never thought I would enjoy a stone like this :)

Enjoyable, I have to agree with that. Its a lot better then standing behind a belt sander in a cold basement.
 
I had been meaning to post a photo of my Arkansas stones. DM
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The top 2 are Norton's black and translucent. The bottom ones are a 2x6" Washita from a Hot Springs, AR. vendor, a 2x8" Pinnacle twin grit, black hard & soft white and the 4x8" Translucent. DM
 
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Nice collection Dave! I think you showed that to me a while back. Glad to see it again though :)

When my grandfather passed away his knives and sharpening supplies were left to me. Some really HUGE bench stones that make mine seem small. But one of interest is a small Buck sharpening kit. Its one of a few that he left me. Forgive the terrible lighting and cell phone quality, my desktop is crashed to use a real camera.

Here it is:

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I know you are kind of an expert on all things Buck. Do you know anything about this stone?

Thank you!

BTW, out of that collection of yours what do you like the best?
 
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One more shot, the Washita and then Hard Arkansas from the Buck kit.

Any clue? Thanks :)
 
Yes, that is Buck's model 133 sharpening kit. Brought out in the early 70's. The paperwork should have the 1717 Magnolia Ave. address. The Washita stone is the coarsest of the Arkansas's around 400g and the white hard 6-700g. I use the above Washita on my knife and the black and translucent on my razor. DM
 
For anyone interested I have a quick update.

I couldn't resist trying the new 10x3 translucent. It soaked up oil beautifully and brought out TONS of depth.

The finish I got with it is between the 8x2 translucent and 8x2 black. The 8x2 black giving a mirror polish finish, the 10x3 a mirrorish finish and the 8x2 translucent just below a mirror finish.

I haven't looked at the edge under a microscope yet, but I don't have to. The difference is noticeable. It cuts newspaper almost silently and has much less toothy feeling edge on my finger. IT IS sharp though. Not sure what to think, I have gotten to really like the finish from my 8x2 translucent.

I might just keep this one for other purposes then my EDC knives.

Tomorrow in the daylight I am thinking of looking at the stones under the microscope, just to see what I see :)
 
Kevin, Do you think your 10X3 Translucent stone will become finer with use? Interested what you'll find under the microscope concerning the grain structure and such. DM
 
I'm not sure David. I will try to get some pictures through the microscope for you to check out.

The new stone even makes a more muted dull sound when I'm sharpening. The 8x2 translucent makes a high pitch metalic sounds against the knife.

Tomorrow I will look into it more and keep you posted :)

Thanks
 
10x3 Translucent Arkansas

100x view
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8x2 Translucent Arkansas

100x view
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What do you make of these David?
 
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