Arkansas Waterstone...

[JakeR]

Hi All,

Just received my Arkansas waterstone from Axminster. I was recomended one by Allan Blade and i remember Hoodoo mentioning them for use on convex...

It's a perfect size, but is it effective? And do i use oil, or water? Which is best?

Can it be cut down to fit the NS replacement sheaths?

Thanks.

Jake.

 

[MartiniDave]

Jake,

I use good old fashioned spit on mine (or water if available)

Dave

 

[PC2K]

oil reduces friction, friction is whats needed to sharpen you knife.

 

[Andy]

Jake One thing to consider is that if you ever try oil on your stone you have to carry on using oil. If I ever find my grandfathers nice set of stones I'll have to use oil. The general who is the sharpening master advises against oil on a stone like yours. I'd go on what he says

 

[JakeR]

Cool, i'll go for water then!

What different grades can you get then, mine is "hard" would that be considered equivalent to "medium" grit?

 

[Hoodoo]

If that is an Arkansas stone, it's usually referred to as a whetsone or oil stone, not waterstone. I use commercial honing oil on mine or water in the field.

Here's some more info:

Novaculite

More novaculite

This link shows the grades:

Proedge

 

[JakeR]

Cheers Hoodoo...

Should i get an extra hard one for razor finished or will a strop do the trick?

Thans mate.

 

[bombadil]

What's the matter, Jake....starkie not good enough now :rolmao:
I bought one too, thanks to you......and I'm well impressed.
Really neat bit of kit for a possibles pouch... ):

 

[alick]

Unless you want to be all natural, how about a ceramic for the finest grade ? These can reliably give you the equivalent of a 6000 grit for fine finishing, easy flat, long life and maintenance free except for the odd once over with cream cleanser. Ideal for maintaining the edge when stropping isn't enough or the edge is starting to round over.

 

[TheViking]

I once saw a handy/DIY man on telly, doing it with petrol, but don't hang me up on it. :roll:

 

[Hoodoo]

I like the black stone myself for convex and then strop on what have ya. But a small white stone can be pretty handy. The reason why a hard arkansas is desirable is because on a convex knife you have a zero edge and you want to apply a stone gently to this edge so you don't screw it up. A hard stone doesn't take off a lot of metal with each pass but just enough to keep the edge maintained. Any more, I tend to use sandpaper mounted on wooden blocks for sharpening, with mousepad blocks for convex and flat blocks for scandi and knives with secondary bevels. But sometimes a small stone can be pretty handy. A Norton India stone is very nice if you want to get a toothy edge.

Ceramic stones are great too and those often find their way into my kit. A single ceramic rod can be awfully handly, especially if you are carrying a crooked blade.

 

[JakeR]

Cheers guys.

Ceramics as on the back of the DC4? I've got a small waterstone which i just remembered was 4000 (i think) so that would be good. But then i've also got my starkie...

Jake