Hard Arkansas

If I put the final edge on a chisle with a hard Arkansas stone do I need to strop? A buddy of mine told me that if the stone is a true hard Arkansas there is no better finish for the strength of the metal.

[Nancy-G]

Yup -- strop, strop, strop. You need that strop a lot more than the Arkansas stone.

[Captain_Bandaid]

A hard Arkansas stone can be used for polishing the edge and if you have stoned the edge to achieve the burr, you should strop it off or back stroke it on the hard stone to remove it. Remember, you MUST get the wire or burr edge first! If you do not, it means that the two sides of the blade have not met at a precise point on the edge and it is dull. No amount of stropping or polishing on a hard stone will make it sharp...but it will eat a way at your blade.