Thread: My Trans Arkie Trials

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I also like the feel of Kapton tape on hard arks, better than electrical tape, it is thinner and slicker than electrical, so you will want to use it on your pre-finisher to get the bevel right, before finishing. Ink will tell you when you are there.

Just got me thinking.

If you are applying torque why would the tape be much of a difference?

I admire you fellows and your Arks. Is fun to follow along!

“If you are applying torque why would the tape be much of a difference?”

We are talking microns here. The spine and tape are still on the stone.

One of the complaints of non-tape users is the rubbery drag of tape, and there is some, though very little. Kapton reduces drag and it is tough.

When honing a thin hollow ground razor, too much pressure (torque is pressure) can flex the blade and lift the very edge off the stone.

I often use electrical tape to set a bevel then switch to Kapton on the mid-grit stone to re-set the bevel angle and continue with the finisher(s).

I use kapton tape but i do it to get the right angle on the edge. Electrical tape if i need more and kapton if no tape is needed for adjustment. The stuff is tough.

Will have to look into Kapton tape. Is it good to use for bevel setting on 1k waterstones and the like?

Jerry, using the unfinished side of the stone? I know Steel uses one burnished one not on some of his arks.

Keep up the good work guys. I'll keep honing/restoring vicariously through you guys lol.

The Kapton tape can be used when bevel setting but at 1k any tape will break down. But i feel this stuff hold up better that electrical tape. The problem with it is its not streatchable. You if your trying to take the edge of a smiling spine, its not going to lay perfectly when you try to lay it over onto the sides of the spine.

I havent played with the other side of my stone yet. I dont think i will for a while if ever. If i manage to get the edge im looking for with this one i might pick up a softer arkie to play with. But this is a long time from now. It took me many many months to learn to hone properly with synthetics stones. So i got a ways to go before i can say i know the trans ark.

Time is the only difference, between Nats & synthetics Jerry.
The end results are the same, it just takes longer to get there, with Nats.

I've spent whole days honing, some razors. And I've been with rock n hand since I was like 7 years old, honing knives n such, then razors, ten years later.

I learned on my own, for the most part. Finding this place taught me about the different hones used for razors, and really upped my game, drastically.!! So your farther ahead in the game, than I was, for the time you've been at it. I had to rough it out.


Keep at it bro, one day you'll hear what the stones are telling you. They do speak to us, but you have to listen with your hands and fingers, like a blind man reads brail.

Originally Posted by outback

Keep at it bro, one day you'll hear what the stones are telling you. They do speak to us, but you have to listen with your hands and fingers, like a blind man reads brail.

This all day long-"Getting the feel" of your stone and its interface with the razor is everything.

About to sit down for the evening with my rocks. Thanks for the confidence Mike. I know i will get there. Its a long slow trip. At least i know this nowadays. A couple years ago i just couldnt believe it would takr so much time and effort to learn a stone.

Hence my saying below. I put it there to remind me and to let others know i was wrong in the beginning.

I put some more time on the Trans Arkie. Used some tourque to get some work on the very edge. Did a test shave this morning and i didnt notice any more keenness. Shaved about the same as the first two times i used it. I will kill the edge slightly and go back the the synthetic stones to be sure all is 100%. Then go to the Arkie again. Hoping i can find a little more off this stone. Its not bad, just feels lacking to me.

I will try it in the morning before work and post up my findings.