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Natural novaculite sharpening stones from Arkansas, mounted on aluminum blanks for Hapstone sharpeners.
Natural abrasive
Arkansas stones are made of novaculite, a high-density natural abrasive also known as microcrystalline quartz.
Origin
Arkansas stones are mined in the Ouachita Mountains in the state of Arkansas, United States.
Mounted format
All Dan's stones are mounted on high-quality aluminum blanks with laser engraving.
Types
Natural stone behavior
Arkansas stones consist of silica, but unlike synthetic abrasives, they do not consist of individual abrasive grains of the same size.
The sharpening behavior depends on stone density and lapping quality rather than a strict grit number.
How to use
Arkansas stones should be used with refined olive oil, oleic acid, or Dan's mineral oil.
Arkansas stones do not require preparation. Black and Translucent Arkansas stones are naturally lapped to ultra-fine grit, which is a major advantage because lapping Arkansas is very difficult.
Natural stone notes
• Translucent Arkansas stones may have small caverns.
• Moderate variations of shade and color are normal.
• These variations are not treated as defects.
FAQ
Common questions about Arkansas stone types, origin, and grit terminology.
Translucent and Black Arkansas stones have the same density and lapping quality. They are of equal value as ultra-fine finishing stones.
Dan's Whetstone does not sell Black Translucent stones. True Hard Arkansas combines features of Hard, Translucent, and Black Arkansas, but Black Arkansas is usually the more reasonable choice.
Arkansas sharpening stones are purchased directly from Dan's Whetstones and mounted to aluminum blanks.
No. These sharpening stones are sold mounted on blanks.
Grit terminology is not applicable to natural sharpening stones such as novaculite. Their behavior depends on density and lapping quality.
Specifications
