Welcome to Arkansas Stone Grades 101
Natural Arkansas Whetstones are available
in various grades and classifications. Users should be aware that color
is not the determining factor in grading Novaculite. Some
users have been defining whetstone grades by color, but the same colors may be
seen in more than one grade and classification. Different grades of Novaculite also have a
noticeable difference in texture. The softer the stone, the coarser the
surface of the stone feels; harder stones, such as the True Hard and
Translucent, have a smoother glassy feel.
How to Choose an Arkansas
Stone Grade to Suit Your Needs
Click on images for larger
view
Soft Arkansas
(Medium) is the most popular of the grades of Novaculite. It is an
all-purpose stone used by woodcarvers, sportsmen, butchers, commercial knife
sharpeners and even housewives. This stone is used by people who desire
keen, polished edges on their knives and tools in a minimum amount of
time. Soft Arkansas stones may be
white,
gray and
black,
or pink
and gray
in color.
Hard Select Arkansas
(Fine) is most suitable for fine polishing and the maintenance of a fine edge on
knives or tools. Hard Select Arkansas is often referred to as "White
Hard." However, users should be aware that Hard Select Arkansas often has color
variations also. To our knowledge, this color does not interfere with the honing process by
any means. Hard Select Arkansas stones are popular among woodcrafters and a
variety of industries including the dental industry.
True Hard Arkansas
(Extra Fine) is the finest grade abrasive available today. It is most
commonly used for industrial applications where an extremely fine polish is
required. True Hard Arkansas stones are often referred to as Multi-Colored
Translucent; colors, both opaque and translucent, are random and may include black,
red, white,
and gray--often
within the same stone.
Black and Translucent Arkansas
(Extra Fine) stones are classifications included in the True Hard Arkansas grade
category according to specific
gravity under density standards. The reason there is a classification in
this grade is because of color preferences by customers. Black Arkansas stones are black
or blue-black
in color. Translucent stones may be a uniform, translucent shade of gray,
white,
yellow,
brown
and sometimes even pink.
Dan's Whetstone Company has True Hard,
Black and Translucent stones available in all published sizes and shapes.
Arkansas Stone Grade Table
* This table does not reflect manmade stone grades*
| Who they are: |
How They Grade Natural Arkansas Stones:
|
| Arkansas Geological Commission |
Washita |
Arkansas |
| A
Leading Stone Manufacturer |
Soft
(referred to as Extra Fine in regards
to manmade stones) |
Hard
(referred to as Ultra Fine in regards
to manmade stones) |
| A Leading Bonded Abrasive Manufacturer |
Very Soft |
Semi-Hard
(incorrectly refers to this as flawed Ultra-Hard Stone) |
Ultra-Hard |
Past
U.S. Federal Government |
Soft |
Hard |
Current
U.S. Federal Government |
Soft |
Hard |
- Dan's Whetstone
- Company, Inc.
|
Washita
(limited availability) |
Soft |
Hard |
True Hard |
Black Hard |
Translucent |
| How Fine |
Coarse |
Medium |
Fine |
Extra Fine |
| Related
Grit Size |
400-600 |
600-800 |
800-1000 |
1200+ |
| Specific Gravity |
2.25 or less |
2.25-2.30 |
2.30-2.45 |
2.50 or more |
| Colors |
White
Purple, White & Orange
|
Gray, White,
Black & Gray
Gray & Pink
Black & White
|
White,
White & Pink |
- Black, Gray,
- White, Red
- (combination
- of 2 or more
- colors occurs frequently)
|
Black,
Blue-black |
- Translucent Gray
- Translucent Yellow
- Translucent Brown
- Translucent Pink
|
