It's getting near that time, and this year I want to be prepared. I have the Norton combo oilstone. Now I am interested in trying natural stones. I usually see an assortment over the season, most in grimy wooden unmarked boxes, with stones of various size and color. I just don't know what I'm looking at or what I really need. The sellers are just as clueless.

So, how do I identify a soft vs hard vs translucent stone. Arkansas vs what else? And are there any fatal flaw to avoid? Is there a preferred size? Is the quality of the box indicative of the quality of the stone?

I know that's a lot of questions. Is there a guide or useful website? Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Dan