Thread: Hard Arkansas

Its a black from Natural Whetstone

I guess that I am going to have to order a set of Arkies as the ones that I have had for better than 20 years are MIA. My Grandfather gave me those stones so I am not to happy about losing them. I hope that as soon as I get a new set the old ones will turn up as that is what usually happens.

Joel if my plans don't get changed (things in Mo.) I will be going to Dan,s the first of the month if theres anything I can get you tc

I had my first full Arki shave this morning. Breadknifed my blade a day or two ago. Went soft, hard, black. Did a few passes on CrOx, linen, leather.

Dudes! I couldn't believe how smooth it was lol!! Putting on the alum after though - sting. I wasn't expecting that.

Either way, its been fun lol - I have a new method I can utilize. Not sure yet how often I'll call on it yet. Need to try some other blades. But there is no question that I am happily surprised .

Originally Posted by earcutter

I had my first full Arki shave this morning. Breadknifed my blade a day or two ago. Went soft, hard, black. Did a few passes on CrOx, linen, leather.

Dudes! I couldn't believe how smooth it was lol!! Putting on the alum after though - sting. I wasn't expecting that.

Either way, its been fun lol - I have a new method I can utilize. Not sure yet how often I'll call on it yet. Need to try some other blades. But there is no question that I am happily surprised .

Thats weird I never get any sting after shaving with an ark blade. Of course I never use the crox either after and ark finish just strop and go. Maybe try that it don't know. Of course there is always the YMMV part of it too.

Originally Posted by earcutter

I had my first full Arki shave this morning. Breadknifed my blade a day or two ago. Went soft, hard, black. Did a few passes on CrOx, linen, leather.

Dudes! I couldn't believe how smooth it was lol!! Putting on the alum after though - sting. I wasn't expecting that.

Either way, its been fun lol - I have a new method I can utilize. Not sure yet how often I'll call on it yet. Need to try some other blades. But there is no question that I am happily surprised .

I worked up three razors last night from bevel set in about a half hour (using a coarse washita, a broken in washita and a translucent). It's becoming my favorite way to set up a new razor. A coarse washita is faster than a 1k stone, but the scratches are quickly removed by a washita that's broken in, and those scratches are gradual enough that the trans works those out quickly, too.

Far nicer to use a progression of novaculite than try to switch to a trans ark after a medium synthetic stone.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Joel if my plans don't get changed (things in Mo.) I will be going to Dan,s the first of the month if theres anything I can get you tc

Thanks tc. I am waiting on three Welsh hones to try out but having a set of Arkansas stones is my preferred method. All the years I have been using those stones and I never realized that there was more to them than my Grandfather taught me, but you have to figure, he was a "salt of the earth" kind of man no nonsense, straight forward and so all the little nuances were meaningless to him.

Originally Posted by cosperryan

Thats weird I never get any sting after shaving with an ark blade. Of course I never use the crox either after and ark finish just strop and go. Maybe try that it don't know. Of course there is always the YMMV part of it too.

Yeah - good point. Not sure why I went with the CrOx.

I always strop right off the hone, no pastes/sprays involved. I have never had any sting afterwards.

I'll give it a whirl lol.