Thread: My 1K/4K challenge

Time for an update.

I recently purchased a new true hard Arkansas stone and have been trying to figure it out. My first attempt messed up an edge that had been shaving well (I didn't prep the bevels as well as I should have). So that one went back to lower grits and taught me a few things.

I've been struggling with getting the previous grits scratch patterns polished out with the next stone, particularly on my push stroke. I'd eventually get there, but it seemed like it took longer than it should. I started using slurry and it helped speed things up. It also dawned on me that I may have set the bevel on the 1K with too much pressure. I thought that might be why I wasn't getting full bevel contact on the higher grit stones with light pressure.

I decided to take the blade back to the 1K and re-set the bevel with really light strokes. I cut the edge of with one stroke on the corner of the stone, made a slurry and diluted it as I worked with the lightest pressure I could manage. I noticed the further away from the tang I held the razor, the lighter I could get my strokes. So holding a little behind the pivot gave me my lightest strokes (just enough grip to keep the blade under control). After 25-30 strokes the bevel was back and tested well. I cleaned the stone off and made 5 more really light laps with little water. I went back up to 8K and gave it a test shave - felt good.

I also have a hard ark that and wondered if it could be a bridge to the true hard. I went to that stone next...test shave...eh no. It was pretty close to the 8K shave, but a little step back. I brought it back to 8K with another test shave - all good.

On to the true hard ark...water only...lots of laps, not much headway changing the scratch pattern. I increased pressure, decreased pressure and had to walk away for a night. Came back to it the next day and started seeing some change. I added a drop of soap and the blade stuck to the stone much better and was under cutting the water really nicely. Lots more laps and I finally got the pattern on the bevel to change. My test shave this morning was improved over the 8K, but a little tuggy. I'm not there yet..I'll try some more laps and maybe change up the honing solution (Smith's and maybe oil).

My take away lessons from this: Slurry is good, I can moderate my pressure with hold position, test shaving after the 8K is going to be part of my routine until I get better at this, and wedges are going to have to wait a bit longer.

On arkies I've always found olive oil to work better than soap and water.
Honing oil works better, but I don't like using that on something that I will put on my face.