Thread: Hone sequence

Originally Posted by jkatzman

I had to set the bevel with my Naniwa 1k, the Naniwa 5k, Jnat, Naniwa 12k, Suehiro 20k, Arkansas Black, Chromium oxide paddle and my English leather paddle strop.

You are using a Whole lot of hones there


The Jnat is an unknown grit level
The Arkie is an unknown grit level

To test hones you need to have a positive level jump off point

I used the 8k's for year as a jump off point between Polishing and Finishing

I would get the razor to that point with an 8k where I knew I had a CCS from that edge then I would test the new hone and see if it improved that edge..

From what you have I would guess your jump off point to be either your J-nat or your N12k..

sometimes taking hones out of the progression and not "Over-finishing" will yield a much more comfortable edge

I guess this is going to be a trial and error. Want to experiment with the ark after the 12k. Is chromium oxide necessary after the ark?

If I am testing a Hone then I don't even use Linen, just about 20 on leather to burnish the edge a bit so I can REALLY feel the edge off that hone ..

after I get where I like I can always tweak it with more stuff later

I would hone the razor with the 12K and then hit the Arkie with it and check under magnification to see where it fits. Then I'd shave off the edge and see if I felt a need to go anywhere after that.

Like Glenn said your arkie is an unknown grit being a natural. Throw in the fact that individual Arkansas stones will vary more depending on the level that it is burnished and this really isn't a question you can get an answer to from any one of us. I would do what Glenn suggested above and just do it trial and error. It's the best part anyways, figuring out the puzzle. Jump in. The waters fine!

I have several black Arkies and unfortunately the scratch patterns range from about 10k to 20k.
It really is trial and error.
Practice on the arkie with a kitchen knife or a hunting knife to compare the scratch pattern.

And have you considered HAD rehabilitation yet?

I took an old Genco razor and went to my 12k then the Ark. The Ark is so glass smooth, 2 hours of burnishing, that its hard to tell when your done. What I did notice is after say 50 laps, the blade wants to stick to the Ark. I thought it needed more oil and it still wanted to stick. I checked it under my glass and the bevel was very smooth. Next, the shave. Very comfortable. No tugging or irritation. I am curious now to see how a stainless steel blade reacts. My first impression, I really like the Ark as a final finishing - polishing stone. It feels more comfortable shaving then the Suehiro 20k.

Food for thought, but if it were me I'd drop the Jnat and the 20k from the progression then. Assuming of course that you don't find a blade that likes the 20k better than the Arkie.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

I checked it under my glass and the bevel was very smooth. Next, the shave. Very comfortable. No tugging or irritation. My first impression, I really like the Ark as a final finishing - polishing stone. It feels more comfortable shaving then the Suehiro 20k.

+1 here too

OK, took gssixgun's advice and honed an already sharp Genco and a Dovo Bismarck. The Dovo I just could not get a smooth shave with it. I reset the bevel on a Naiwa 1k traditional stone, Naniwa 5k, 12k and this time I used the Ark after the 12k. Did 100 laps on the ark and shaved with it no strop. Wow are they shaving smooth. I was going to send out the Dovo to get it honed but not now. I compared the 2 razors bevel to others I have honed and noticed on the Ark razors how much smoother the bevel is under a glass. Can't wait to use my Jnat then the Ark. Thanks all for your advice.