Thread: My first try with a Trans Ark

You know the term beginners luck?

I killed the edge on one of my beaters.

I spent maybe 3 hours on the rough side of my Washita, then I spent about 2 more hours on the smooth side, it is about 50% burnished so it's still a work in progress.

I was suprised that it actually cut stomach hair.

I moved onto the rough side of my Translucent for about 2 hours and tested it on my stomach again, it was starting to tree top so I moved onto the smooth side for about 2 more hours.

Outback wasn't wrong when he warned me that a full progression on Arks was a very slow process!

Anyway, when I finished the blade is stained (I used glycerin) but it was treetopping well.

I just had a shave with it to give it the ultimate test.

It shaved fantastically, I am BBS.

I am disappointed that I can't figure out how to shine the blade up again without losing a finger and as far as the shave, it was fantastic but I couldn't tell the diference between the Arks and the synths. Actually thats not quite true, the synths to 12k seems a bit sharper. I am going to put that down to the smooth sides of both rocks not being fully burnished and my complete lack of experience with naturals.

I'm not unhappy with the results of my first real start to finish Ark razor but i also know that it was more luck than judgement.

If anyone wants to know my method:

Just hone away for hours and hours and hours, eventually it has to get sharp, but OMG it is sloow. Lucky I can't think of anything more fun than playing with my razors eh.

Could always send out the stone and razor to a honemeister to see what they can do with it as well.

Originally Posted by STF

If anyone wants to know my method:

Just hone away for hours and hours and hours, eventually it has to get sharp, but OMG it is sloow. Lucky I can't think of anything more fun than playing with my razors eh.

Speed and fast aren’t high priorities for me when working with Arkansas stones, and I realize this a new experience for you. Finishing on an Arkansas shouldn’t take quite so long as hours and hours. So keep developing your skills and work on cutting that time down. I admit I don’t watch the clock when I finish on an Arkansas. As someone complimented me (I think a compliment), I’m king of lazy honing / finishing with Arkansas stones. Pop on your favorite Netflix series, play two or three episodes (note I didn’t say watch them), and hone away. Skill and technique first, then lazy honing.

Originally Posted by Christian1

Could always send out the stone and razor to a honemeister to see what they can do with it as well.

Er, No - I'm not giving up, I will learn this stuff eventually even if I feel like I'm shaving with a brick for a few months first.

Originally Posted by STF

Er, No - I'm not giving up, I will learn this stuff eventually even if I feel like I'm shaving with a brick for a few months first.

I was never a send it out guy either. I learned it all on my own, mostly by watching the videos and practice. Occasionally I’d buy a new razor honed by the seller and it would come in shave ready. I learned what a shave ready razor was suppose to feel like. Now I trust my own honing whether Arkansas, coticules, or Shapton Glass synthetics.

I thought I would give you all a quick update and thank you for the advice and support you gave me and continue to give me on various threads.

I had a lightbulb moment with my honing on synthetics and have since got my gold dollar to treetop hair and had an amazing BBS shave with. It turned out that all I had to do was listen to the advice I was given and actually act upon it.

Anyway, I was super impressed with my GD edge so I took it to my trans ark for 30 minutes and then stropped it, with 6 on Cro Ox for luck.

I shaved with it and the edge feels so great, in fact I had to check if I was shaving with the spine so close that the blade was off my face. I won't hold my breath but I would be so happy if my other razors had an edge like this.

I did take one of my razors and set the bevel on a washita, turned it over and spent a few hours on it before going to the rough side of my trans for a few hours and then the fine side for another couple of hours. It took a long long time but I have to say, I got a really nice edge and a lovely shave.

My next goal I think will have to be to cut the time taken down because although I love my arks, I can't spend all day on every razor I hone.

I told ya they were slow, but perfect for creeping up, and squeaking out the best of an edge.

When I'm honing I feel if I can't take a razor from bevel set to finish in an hour then it's time to move on to another razor and come back to that one another day. You got to have limits. Spending 4 to 6 hours on one razor is just crazy!

Originally Posted by Gasman

When I'm honing I feel if I can't take a razor from bevel set to finish in an hour then it's time to move on to another razor and come back to that one another day. You got to have limits. Spending 4 to 6 hours on one razor is just crazy!

You can bevel set to finish on only Arks in an hour?

My goodness, I definately need to speed things up!

He's saying he won't spend more than an hour, honing. He'll come back later, to hone on it some more.