I found a Smith's 1000-grit ceramic stone on ebay for $8 shipped. Would this work well to initially set bevels? I measures 6"x1.5"x0.4" and is made in the USA.
Smith's 1000 Ceramic Stone for setting bevels?
- Thread starter nowsharing
- Start date
Couple thoughts:
- I think "Smiths", I think "Arkansas". A "1000-grit" Arkansas is way too fine to set a bevel, since Arks are graded differently than synthetics. http://www.danswhetstone.com/stone_grades_101.htm
BUT!
- that looks man-made, so maybe the grit rating follows differently (but which grit standard?), and a 1000-grit ark that big is a good deal.
- if it is man-made, it will likely wear faster than an Ark, so it seems thin to use for years and years, but it's 8 bucks, so worth a shot.
- its 8 bucks, so can't hurt trying it, just test it on a GD for starters after lapping it.
- I think "Smiths", I think "Arkansas". A "1000-grit" Arkansas is way too fine to set a bevel, since Arks are graded differently than synthetics. http://www.danswhetstone.com/stone_grades_101.htm
BUT!
- that looks man-made, so maybe the grit rating follows differently (but which grit standard?), and a 1000-grit ark that big is a good deal.
- if it is man-made, it will likely wear faster than an Ark, so it seems thin to use for years and years, but it's 8 bucks, so worth a shot.
- its 8 bucks, so can't hurt trying it, just test it on a GD for starters after lapping it.
Last edited:
It looks man made. I would think it would be worth a shot, as long as you don't have really wide stones for further up. I would rather have a wide bevel setter for my STRAIGHT razors, but a more narrow hone is fine for smiling razors. If you get one, post back with what you think.
- Thread starter
- #4
Alright, I just placed an order for this. I plan on using it to set my bevel, and then using a yellow Belgian coticule to hone. I have a couple of ebay junkers to test with. I'll post back with my results.
Correct me if I'm wrong but a ceramic stone has no grit!
Lots of synths are ceramic.
Check on smiths site to see if its there
- Thread starter
- #8
It's not listed on their site, unless I missed finding it.
I don't understand - what's the question?
The stone is listed as a 1k - what's to look for after that? The scale used for rating it?
Doubt you're gonna get that from Smiths.
If you're lucky - they may give you a composition report or something. Maybe not though.
BTW _ all arks have the same particle size - their finishing capability is based on particle density, not particle size.
The numbers used by retailers to grade them are not only wrong, they're useless.
People do set bevels on hard and soft Arks successsfully.
But those success stories are usually over-run by posts from those that don't use them, and 'think' that Arks are less than capable.
The majority-rules mentality is stifling at times. Bevels can be set lots of different ways - not all of them are 'new' or 'expensive' either.
Remember - people have been shaving for a long time - synths weren't available until the late 1800s.
What do you think people did before carborundums showed up? They used Naturals - and they worked well too.
That Smith's piece is a cheap ceramic hone - might work for you, might not. Only way to know is to try it.
Might be a ceramic binder with Alox in it, or it could be something else. Hard to say without any details posted by the mfgr.
To guess - it's like a ceramic rod for tuning up the burr on a kitchen knife.
I think Smiths discontinued that item - they were on sale at knife shops for cheap a month or so ago.
Those stones were intended for fine-finihing a knife - but it may serve as a bevel cutter if you're lucky.
Me - I'd just buy a King 1k or something along those lines and be done with it.
They work, plenty of people use them and can offer advice.
Or go for a nicer option if funds permit.
Experimentation is a good thing - but so is being able to get reliable advice from people that use the same stone.
For a few bucks - can't really go wrong though. If nothing else, you can use it to tune up pocket knives.
The stone is listed as a 1k - what's to look for after that? The scale used for rating it?
Doubt you're gonna get that from Smiths.
If you're lucky - they may give you a composition report or something. Maybe not though.
BTW _ all arks have the same particle size - their finishing capability is based on particle density, not particle size.
The numbers used by retailers to grade them are not only wrong, they're useless.
People do set bevels on hard and soft Arks successsfully.
But those success stories are usually over-run by posts from those that don't use them, and 'think' that Arks are less than capable.
The majority-rules mentality is stifling at times. Bevels can be set lots of different ways - not all of them are 'new' or 'expensive' either.
Remember - people have been shaving for a long time - synths weren't available until the late 1800s.
What do you think people did before carborundums showed up? They used Naturals - and they worked well too.
That Smith's piece is a cheap ceramic hone - might work for you, might not. Only way to know is to try it.
Might be a ceramic binder with Alox in it, or it could be something else. Hard to say without any details posted by the mfgr.
To guess - it's like a ceramic rod for tuning up the burr on a kitchen knife.
I think Smiths discontinued that item - they were on sale at knife shops for cheap a month or so ago.
Those stones were intended for fine-finihing a knife - but it may serve as a bevel cutter if you're lucky.
Me - I'd just buy a King 1k or something along those lines and be done with it.
They work, plenty of people use them and can offer advice.
Or go for a nicer option if funds permit.
Experimentation is a good thing - but so is being able to get reliable advice from people that use the same stone.
For a few bucks - can't really go wrong though. If nothing else, you can use it to tune up pocket knives.
If its not on their site, probably not their product.
Of course....if its on the interwebs it has to be true.
Bon Jour
Of course....if its on the interwebs it has to be true.
Bon Jour
- Thread starter
- #11
Your comment about the natural methods led me to looking in to whether my (on order) Belgian yellow coticule would work, and apparently some people swear by them to set a bevel. I'll try experimenting with both the ceramic and coticule. It's good to know that I can at least use the ceramic stone for my kitchen knives, which have never had a proper honing.
While I've set some bevels with my coti, they were mostly "easy" ones. Pretty dang versatile though, ain't they?
