Originally Posted by
Euclid440
Yea, $300 is a bit pricy, I just saw a nice 8 x 2.5 Surgical Black Ark sell for $65 USD, on EBay.
Your small Ark may work if it is a Hard Ark, a Translucent or Surgical Black and if prepared properly, lapped flat and burnished slick with hard, flat carbon steel.
I have finished razors on a 4x2 and they finish, just fine after a good 8K edge, you will just have to double your laps to get enough mileage on your stone face. You could also do a micro bevel, by adding an extra layer of tape after a good 8K edge and do 10-20 lite laps.
I usually add a micro bevel after a 12K, but a Norton 8K will produce a fine shaving edge. I also maintained a single razor for many years with a 6 in translucent ark, just touching up on it every couple of months or so.