Originally Posted by
Gasman
Ray, im not so sure i really needed to do 400 laps. That was just a guess but i think it was close. I had taken the razor to shave ready off a 12k so it was not in need of anything really. This was just an experiment so i could see if i could make the Arkie work for me. And it did.
Now my understanding is that these stones are made for finishers. Not prefinsher. Meaning the edge needs to be right before you go to it. I could be wrong. Also we are talking about the hardest type of Arkie stone. The softer ones mostlikely will cut more so they would help in correcting a lessor edge needing a touch up. Then to the hard one for finishing.
Its very possible that i could have gotten the same edge after 200 laps but that wouldnt have been as fun. I like honing. And I wanted to be sure i went to the max with the stone. Hell, this could have been a fluke and it may take months before I get it again. Ha. Thats honing with a new stone.I bet now that im working my way thru all my razors making 100% sure they are perfect, i know i do many more laps than 400 every time i sit down to the stones. I think its fun.
Paul, that was my next experiment is to go from the 8k to the hard Ark. I read that it is possible. I did not sit down to the stones last night so i will wait for me next weekend to play some more. I will shave with this edge a few times this week to get to know it and to understand a little more of what im feeling.
Not knocking it, but using a crox on an arkie stone seems to me that you are getting a crox edge. Not an arkie edge. Im sure it would do a fine job putting a very keen edge on a razor. But i want to try just the Arkie stone for now. With clean stropping. And thats another thing. I strop the hell out of my razors. Off the stone i bet i do 50 to 70 on linen and 150 to 200 on leather. After a shave i do 30/60. Before a shave 30/100. It dont take long to do and i enjoy it. But this is another story.