Big Finishers

[pavhav]

I'm considering some large, fine finishing stones to sharpen long knives and cleavers. 8 × 3", 10 × 3", or larger preferred. Does anyone have experience with, or a preference between the following two? (The first being a translucent 8 × 3", and the latter a black ultra fine 8 × 3", both at 1/2" thickness).

https://www.bestsharpeningstones.co...name=Arkansas Sharpening Stones&product_id=75
https://danswhetstone.com/product/wide-bench-stones/
I'd love to buy used, but can't ever seem to find the big ones on Ebay/Etsy. I've also tried to buy a large BBW, but consistently have issues paying through the Ardennes-Coticule site.
Alternative recommendations are also welcome.

 

[Rangen]

Those are both very very fine stones, the kind of stones people use to finish razors. I suppose you can make them coarser with suitable surface prep, though. I have one of Dan's black stones, which I surfaced on 600 grit SiC powder, and it works beautifully as a razor finisher. But maybe roughed up on a coarser grit, using something that does not break down, as SiC does, it would make a good knife finisher?

They are likely very similar in performance, or so people say, who have tried both. And very different from a BBW, which will produce the kind of keen-but-toothy edge that lots of people want in the kitchen. A BBW is also a much faster stone.

I've used a large Dan's Soft to finish kitchen knives, with very good results.

 

[Desert Rat]

I like the replacement stones for the Norton 313 tri hones, @ 2 1/2" x 11 1/2" x 1/2".

 

[pavhav]

Thank you both for the replies.
I ended up getting the 250 x 100mm BBW. At circa $160 shipped it seemed like the best deal, (and my payment finally worked). All my cotis are new slate backed ones, so I've yet to try the BBWs out. I have an old Pike washita from @cotedupy, which may be similar enough to the soft ark, and a huge Cretan stone to round out the denser novaculites. I guess I must have just a bit of FOMO with the high end Arkansas stones - just keep hearing good things.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Thank you both for the replies.
I ended up getting the 250 x 100mm BBW. At circa $160 shipped it seemed like the best deal, (and my payment finally worked). All my cotis are new slate backed ones, so I've yet to try the BBWs out. I have an old Pike washita from @cotedupy, which may be similar enough to the soft ark, and a huge Cretan stone to round out the denser novaculites. I guess I must have just a bit of FOMO with the high end Arkansas stones - just keep hearing good things.

I love my Arks but the reality is, I grab a Soft or Hard the overwhelming majority of time. I'm down to one black now and rarely ever use it.