I really enjoy sharpening on my washitas. I tend to use very light pressure and I have a wide variety of washitas from very fast to several that are very dense and pass light almost as well as a translucent. They produce a nice knife edge especially with antique carbon steel and if I need to take it to a more refined edge I move to one of my translucents. I own a couple of black arks but for me the deciding factor is my ability to see the steel removed on the translucent and the fact that I can't see the difference in the edge between black and translucent.
FYI: its Novaculite not Noviculite. Cool stone. I just met the owner of the property last weekend where most of it comes from if not all. I brought back a few hundred pounds for flintknapping. I did buy several oil stones of different varieties so thanks much for the info. Cant wait to try them. I have been using Japanese waterstones but gonna try something new.
All the same, washita stones replaced other stones in the UK precisely because of their productivity, if you are a carpenter and you can sharpen one chisel in 5 minutes, and not in 15, this greatly increases your productivity
@@naturalwhetstones They're less relevant because they're no longer produced. They're no longer produced because the high-quality stone was mined out...not because they were replaced by synths. Soft Arks are inferior to Washitas and modern synths...but they're still mined and sold. Apparently, Norton and possibly Dan's occasionally have what they claim are new Washita stones available for sale. But as far as I've seen these are nothing like classical Washitas. I don't own any new ones but from what I've read about them and the pictures I've seen they are not the same stones. What I've read from knowledgeable people think they're just soft arks labeled "Washita". These newly mined stones sell for relatively cheap...but the vintage used Washita are quite expensive in good condition.
Thanks for sharing this very interesting video. I would love to experiment a Washita stone. Not sure how close it comes to a Mountainview course, Marcella extra course, (Arkansas), or the Queer Creek (Ohio). I have all these in a 4x1 format for my KME along with soft, hard, and translucent Arkies. It may be redundant to what I already have.
Reading over what those are (mountain view and marcella) my guess is that they are soft arkansas stone. Washita and Soft Arkansas can feel very similar, but the Washita will (almost) always be higher quality with more consistency to its composition, placing of holes, etc. In use though, probably somewhat redundant. A lot of the benefit of the Washita comes from the pressure you can place upon it. I am have not used your sharpening system but I would doubt it allows you to really torque the pressure.
@@naturalwhetstones Informative response. Thanks. Yes, you are observant and correct. The needed pressure you suggested cannot be achieved on the KME with those stones. Though more stable on my TSP/KO3, still not desirable compared to diamond stones or SIC stones. I do have quite a few full size Arkies (8x2x1), from soft to blue/black, just not a Llly Washita. Not sure how bad I need it, but it looks very interesting. Thanks!
@@JohnDoe-zb7dz They are cool! I think a lot of people feel that the soft arks and washitas are very similar. However, people who are really big novaculite fans will still be able to feel the benefits of a washita over the soft ark.
I wish I can give more than one like for this video - outstanding amount of information and thorough analysis 🧐. Very well done 👍🏻 and thanks for all the good work
Another amazing tutorial; nothing else as thorough is available here. Please indulge me with JNAT (waterstone) recommendation for a new Hado Nakiri, aogami #1 not #2) edge maintenance. It’s amazing out if the box sharp, and I’d like keeping it that way.
@@edwardrutledge2765 Yes absolutely, it is a great metal for it. There are really many stones that could produce that in a knife. Clearly looking for an Awasedo. If you have a lot of experience sharpening hand you cold look for a 4.5 ranged one. If you have less experience, something like a 3/5 will work better for you as they are more forgiving. The mine name is far less important that the stone is fairly pure, from a reputable seller, and doesn't have any concerning lines. Suita tends to be popular as it falls into that fast cutting softer category a lot of the time. If you want to talk further you can use the contact me on my website.
@@edwardrutledge2765 I always recommend shopping around. JNS is very expensive compared to many other places. Helping look at individual things is far better done over email.
I prefer now working towards myself as it makes burr removal easier. In the video I show working away from yourself. Going away from yourself on the stone is much more beginner friendly. Once you master that apply the same concerns but with edge leading strokes.
Depends on the user. I like my blades above 6k but many don't care. If you are doing razor or certainly carving work yes. Obviously I would say you have a critical lack of natural stones too :P
