I jumped the Arkansas train

[honed]

While I'm no fan of rubbing my precious steel against random rocks found in nature I felt I had to try a Arkie

And when I got offered this beauftiful piece of American soil for basically a song, I jumped it. "Surgical Black"

Lapping it flat was easier then I had thought, given the horror-stories floating around.
8-10 minutes on a well worn DMT XXC left a perfectly flat surface, but from what I gather you get the best results from lapping if with really fine grit, correct?

There seems to be a plethora of threads, but they all have quickly dissolved into a haystack of weird conversation...

Anyhow, oil is the right thing I guess, will test it after a 15K Shapton Pro tonite & see what that does.
Also, my biggest interest is what can be achived when sprayed with some sub-micron compunds...

 

[Doc226]

Nice stone, keep us posted.

 

[life2short1971]

Yes you want to polish the stone after lapping so it as as smooth as possible. Then yes use with oil. The stone will almost become mirrorlike when polished smooth. Like granite. Good luck I hope you like.

 

[LittleLebowski]

Oh, do want......

 

[Obiwan]

Wow, that's a pretty stone. Interested to see what you think.

 

[kirk 988]

im interested in the results too

 

[Wid]

As am I.

 

[paco664]

glad it got there quickly!!!!


i need to send you mine to lap.....

 

[kirk 988]

glad it got there quickly!!!!


i need to send you mine to lap.....

i can imagine the fun of that
still they arnt as hard as the white translucent's are they?

 

[paco664]

i can imagine the fun of that
still they arnt as hard as the white translucent's are they?

yeah.. pretty much....

the hard arkies are just that .... hard....

 

[kirk 988]

yeah.. pretty much....

the hard arkies are just that .... hard....

ill have to buy one and send it to you for lapping then ill try to find the hardest stone i can find.
i want a hard stone to lap i want to try the old bench belt sander its sitting idle and getting no use

 

[paco664]

ill have to buy one and send it to you for lapping then ill try to find the hardest stone i can find.
i want a hard stone to lap i want to try the old bench belt sander its sitting idle and getting no use

don't send it to me to lap.... i have a trans and a surgical that i lapped.... i do NOT want to do that again....

 

[kirk 988]

don't send it to me to lap.... i have a trans and a surgical that i lapped.... i do NOT want to do that again....

what are the edges like are they different or similar?

 

[paco664]

what are the edges like are they different or similar?

imho they are similar...

 

[kirk 988]

imho they are similar...

cheers

 

[honed]

Soooo, as said lapped it flat with the DMT XXC & then progressed thru 325/600 DMT. 1200 w/d & then rubbed the heck out of it with a BBW.

Almost glassy smooth, very reflective surface.

I really think diamonds are the way to go for lapping these. Sandpaper is AluOx or SiC & both are probably just a tad harder then this rock, while diamonds are waaay harder.

Put a few drops of oil on it & began attacking it with a Carter Nakiri in need of a touch-up.
Feedback was...weird. Not bad, it still talks to you, especially considering just how hard & fine it is.
Interestingly enough just some 15 strokes on each side clearly removed all the built up patina on the edge & made it all shiny.
So it does obviously cut!

Had at it a bit more with another white steel knife & considered myself ready to take a razor to it.

Took out an American-made ¼ ground 5/8 that had previously been finished up to 15K Shapton Pro.
Gave it about 100 light laps with oil.

Not bad, not bad at alll.
I haven't shaved yet, but the edge kept it's keeness. When I do the same thing with a coticule after the 15K it looses a bit of sharpness, but not here.

After a good linen/leather strop the Arkie-finished razor was definitely shave-ready. Tonite is shave-test. Remains to find out the feel of the edge

 

[life2short1971]

It will still smooth out a bit more I think so put a couple more knives to it and try a razor again if your not happy.

 

[Raithskar]

I felt I had to try a Arkie

Beauty of a stone Sir! Congratulations!

 

[Krodor]

After a good linen/leather strop the Arkie-finished razor was definitely shave-ready. Tonite is shave-test. Remains to find out the feel of the edge

Soo.....how'd it go? Do tell. Enquiring minds and all that.

 

[trick420]

So I have never honed on an Arkie, but I do have a Brian Brown custom that was honed on an Arkie, and I have yet to take it to a stone for a touch up - It's THAT good. I can't explain the edge - It's fan-freakin'-tastic. and I have close to 100 shaves on it now (yeah, I must be delusional).

Interestingly enough - I had a conversation with Brian about a week or so after I got the razor, and we were talking about the edge - his opinion was that the arkie edge actually gets better after 5 - 10 shaves. And I agree, as I got that very result.