It is not unusual for a new shaver to damage an edge with the first stropping. The edge that Gugi put on the other razor, may have been wiped with the first stropping. Stropping can take some time perfect, and as much as a year to get to a point where you are, ”consistently” improving an edge by stropping.

The Ark bevel needs a lot of refining. It is difficult to tell from the photo, but my guess, based on your post, and that the edge is not straight, is that the bevel, was not fully set on the lowest grit stone. That is what you are seeing at the edge.

While you can set a bevel, make a razor shave ready and maintain it with Arks exclusively, it is much easier to learn to hone on synthetic stones.

Once you have mastered honing and understand the process, what you are seeing and how to overcome issues, then switch to Naturals. You can also hone on synthetics and finish on Naturals.
It is not unusual for a new shaver to damage an edge with the first stropping. The edge that Gugi put on the other razor, may have been wiped with the first stropping. Stropping can take some time perfect, and as much as a year to get to a point where you are, ”consistently” improving an edge by stropping.

The Ark bevel needs a lot of refining. It is difficult to tell from the photo, but my guess, based on your post, and that the edge is not straight, is that the bevel, was not fully set on the lowest grit stone. That is what you are seeing at the edge.

While you can set a bevel, make a razor shave ready and maintain it with Arks exclusively, it is much easier to learn to hone on synthetic stones.

Once you have mastered honing and understand the process, what you are seeing and how to overcome issues, then switch to Naturals. You can also hone on synthetics and finish on Naturals.