Thread: Norton Translucent Arkansas

both the translucent and the surgical black are in the same class of stone based on the specific gravity under density standards both stones are 250+ translucent cost more because they are a rarer stone to find i do have a finisher in a translucent and in a surgical black i have noticed the translucent has a little more resistance when the razor is on the stone ,the black ark feels like your running the razor across glass both do the job very well my translucent (200-250 round trips)is a little faster then the black ark(250-300+ round trips) when finishing on my ark i come off of a sgs 16k

Well I tried the first stone yesterday. It was the plain clear white translucent. There were a few interesting things I learned about it. I used a Greaves and sons 7/8" 1/4 grind wedge with a slight smile. I picked this because it needed honing. I first honed the razor on my Naniwa SS's to 12k. [Note: this razor seemed to be a noticeably softer steel than the other two Sheffield I own, one a W&B the other a John Clarke & sons. It is my favorite shaver when used with my normal honing routine.] I used a light film of Singer sewing machine oil.
I did 70 laps total just as a starting point. I then washed the blade. And the first thing I noticed is that the scratch pattern was very visible when viewing the edge reflection under a bright light. I didn't view edge through my loupe (should have). The edge had dropped back down in Sharpness indicated by sharpness test. Close to my 8k. Knowing my very unscientific tests mean squat when it comes to shaving I went ahead and stropped it. After stropping 60&60 I had an amazing increase in keenness. It was similar to the jump that I get from a coticule after stropping. The bright scratch pattern is gone when looking at the edge under light. Looking through loupe the bevel is very uniform scratch pattern and the edge looks very clean (no micro chipping). The sharpness test was very very similar to 12k. I will shave test when I get in from work in the A.M..
Has anyone had the same experience with a big keenness increase after stropping razors honed on Arkansas stones? Or is this just a fluke. I don't get much when just using synthetics, just slight increase. I get a little more after Escher stones. I always get a nice jump after coticule, but this Arkansas seemed to be even more than my coticules. I have no idea why that happens. Must be some property of the stone that leave certain patterns on the very edge of the blade. Toothyness or lack thereof? Or maybe I'm just demented.
Anyways, I'll post shave test results when I get the chance. If anyone cares to read it.

smgunn i have read the above post the trouble i'm having is you said sharpnees went down but the keenness went up sharpness and keenness are the same a keen razoe is a finely sharp razor any way when i finish on my translucent it jumps in sharpness i have to use a very lite touch when shaving or i'll have weepers all over the place comfort level with the translucent is a hair under a coti with my stone better sharpness but some loss in comfort to me

I think what smgunn is saying is that the arkansas doesn't pass his sharpness test as well straight off the stone as opposed to the coti, but after stropping seems to give a noticeably better result than the coti does after stropping. With my stones, I find the test straight off the stone is not of the utmost importance to the ultimate shaving edge, but if I have a good result at that point it generally means that I have done a good job of using a very light, even touch on the final strokes, leaving a very even edge that needs little stropping to straighten things out. At least that's how I visualize it, who knows what's actually happening. Shave test is another matter, I do agree eleblu that my translucent leaves a noticeably keener edge than the coti, which can slice off acne/skin bumps if used injudiciously. Not to say that the arkansas edge is harsh by any means.

Thez has it right. After the 70 laps on the translucent the sharpness test seemed to decrease from what it was off of the hone just before (12k Nani SS). I went straight to the strop after Arkansas and after 60 laps on plain linen and 60 leather I had a big increase in sharpness (as indicated by tests). I'm sorry for the confusing change in terms. I was probably switching between the terms keenness and sharpness but I meant the same thing whichever I used. My entire honing progression for this razor was 5k, 8k, 12k, then Translucent Arkansas.
I'm not dissuaded by this at all. I know that sharpness tests are meaningless when it comes to the quality of shave. Also, every one of these Arkansas stones are brand new and this is the first time this stone has ever been used. As these stones become finer and finer finishers the more they're used I'll be very happy if this shave turns out to be as good as the 12k. I wonder if I should have lapped the stone past 600 grit.
Thanks for the interest in this. I'll shave in A.M. too tired tonight.

Sean

smgunn when i sharpen my razors when new or really blunt i progress from soft to hard to surgical black and the edge will split hairs straight of the stone and i only give a few laps on the strop brfore use which increases the sharpness even more,i only ever give my razors 20 laps before i shave 30 if i've done a lot of shaves with it,try doing some more work on the stone as it will get unbelievably sharp if you put in the time and effort,they are slow especially when you have to start from blunt but progressing makes it faster and once it's razor sharp touchups aren't too slow

smgunn your right about your stone getting finer after more use's thats the great thing about arks they cut and polish at the same time if you want to smooth your stone out faster and if you have two flat translucent's rub them together i used my pocket translucent on my bench stone to smooth it over ,before that i used a two inch piece of steel i would use as a prep stone to smooth out my stone