Thread: Arkansas success!

Today I was finally able to produce a quality edge from my black Arkansas. For anyone researching and learning to work with this stone as I am, for me here were the keys to success:

1. Correct application of pressure. Unlike my other hones, the Ark seems to need a bit of pressure to polish.

2. I used Andis clipper oil as a lubricant rather than the Dan's honing oil I had been using. For me it was a little less viscous and that was what I needed.

3. Although there is little tactile feedback I was able to hear a difference in sound of the blade when it was getting polished. Hard to explain, but it started to make a "whisking" sound.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been helping me learn how to hone especially @Euclid440 and @utopian your input and guidance is working. Thanks for being supportive and patient with my many questions.

Good job! I'm not sure I need to hear this-I was literally just now on Dan's website looking at some wide trans and black hones I really don't have the spare cash for right now.

Excellent and congratulations on your success. It sounds like you have found something that works for you already so just an FYI- Smiths and Ballistol oil are water soluble so you can adjust the viscosity to where you would like it.

Good show,

Arks work well with Micro bevels, because they polish slowly. Just a few finish laps and thin tape.

I have had good results with clear packing tape instead of, or on top of electrical tape for a very thin micro bevel.

Oil, will melt the tape glue, if you use tape. Smith’s and Ballistol will not, another reason I like them. Either way if using oil, it will wash off with dish soap and water when finished.

Put your oil, Smith’s or Ballistol in a small squirt bottle, that will release a single drop. I use old 1 oz. makeup sample plastic bottles that my bride saves, or 2 oz. plastic oil dispensers, with metal, syringe type applicators, anything that you can control the application to a single drop.

With Arks, you do need a bit more pressure than other stones. An ark edge is a very unique edge.

Congrats on the success. I love hearing about success with Arkies.

I've been using mine with water & shave lather. Thinner (slicker) lather is better for finishing. This applies to oil as well. Just to give you something to play with, most honing oil is mineral oil and you can tweak the viscosity of oil with mineral spirits.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Good job! I'm not sure I need to hear this-I was literally just now on Dan's website looking at some wide trans and black hones I really don't have the spare cash for right now.

Give them a call- super helpful and they can tell you some deals they don't have on the website. I got an "imperfect" 6 x 2 for a good price

Originally Posted by Steel

Excellent and congratulations on your success. It sounds like you have found something that works for you already so just an FYI- Smiths and Ballistol oil are water soluble so you can adjust the viscosity to where you would like it.

I had not thought about ballisol I have some will try it next time.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Good show,

Arks work well with Micro bevels, because they polish slowly. Just a few finish laps and thin tape.

I have had good results with clear packing tape instead of, or on top of electrical tape for a very thin micro bevel.

Oil, will melt the tape glue, if you use tape. Smith’s and Ballistol will not, another reason I like them. Either way if using oil, it will wash off with dish soap and water when finished.

Put your oil, Smith’s or Ballistol in a small squirt bottle, that will release a single drop. I use old 1 oz. makeup sample plastic bottles that my bride saves, or 2 oz. plastic oil dispensers, with metal, syringe type applicators, anything that you can control the application to a single drop.

With Arks, you do need a bit more pressure than other stones. An ark edge is a very unique edge.

Yet again great advice! I will try the ballistol as you suggest. I will think about the micro-bevel concept I had not thought about it that way nor did I realize I could use packing tape to create one

If I am understanding correctly, it is not necessary to polish the entire bevel to achieve an "ark edge" just a few laps with the packing tape?

I found myself doing quite a few laps although I didn't count because I was watching and listening.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Good job! I'm not sure I need to hear this-I was literally just now on Dan's website looking at some wide trans and black hones I really don't have the spare cash for right now.

The Translucent and Hard Black are more expensive than the True Hard and the True Hard is every bit as good for straight razors. No need the spend the extra unless you just want to. My new Dan's Whetstone True Hard I got about a month ago works equal to my Hard Black.

Take a look at this: http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...true-hard.html

I use ordinary J&J baby oil on my Arks. It's a light mineral oil and smells good too.