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Arkansas Whetstones. Choosing And Using The Best Whetstones
It is said that the word novaculite comes from the latin word for razor stone which seems completely appropriate since Arkansas whetstones are renowned for their ability to bring an edge up to a razor sharpness. Arkansas whetstones come in two principal grits: medium and fine. They are primarily differentiated by their color; they are an oil whetstone which means you should use plenty of a good quality honing oil when sharpening edges with them. They are very hard whetstones and very brittle as well so take care not to drop or bang them or they are almost certain to break. Protect them from freezing temperatures because, while they shouldn’t come in contact with water, freezing temperature may cause the stones to crack. Arkansas stones do have one disadvantage in that some stones have hard spots in their sharpening surface. These hard spots will cause nicks, gouges and scratches in the edges and bevels of tools. I use my own Arkansas whetstones to put an especially fine edge on my wood carving tools and carving knives. Because the stones are so hard it takes a considerable amount of time to sharpen or even touch up a good quality knife or tool properly but the final product is well worth the investment in time. Take care of your Arkansas whetstones: protect them from freezing weather, clean them with a dry rag after each use and store them in a dry solid storage container, don't drop or bang them and they will last for many years of sharpening. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com |
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