Thread: My first try with a Trans Ark

Well said, Marty

I am enjoying this thread, and taking notes for improving my Ark game, which has never been up to my JNats.

All this said, and admitting my Ark edge is only a passable grade of C+, I find Arks to be rather 'dead' compared to other stones I've used in terms of feedback.

I'm still learning my primitive true hard from Dan's so don't think I'm an expert...disclaimer finished.

I polished mine to 1K and then spent several nights burnishing with a big'ol chunk of carbon steel. Its got a satiny finish with some hazy reflectivity.

For lubrication I've tried water, water/dish soap, Smith's solution, Smith's solution/water, and traditional oil. I don't have very sensitive skin and couldn't really tell much of a difference in the shave. I've been using oil, since I find it easier to see the blade under cut and also easier to feel the blade "stick" to the stone.

I've found this stone really makes me work my Norton 8K to as good a finish as I can get. For a while I was test shaving the 8K edge before moving to the ark. My best edges have been when I can't see the 8K striae and the bevel gets a kind of hazy look. Then I do 50 or so laps on fabric and then stay on leather until the bevel regains it's high polish.

The performance of my edges were a little hit and miss at first, but I went all in the last couple of months with practice and it's paying off. I'm getting much more consistent results and love the feel of the shaves. I expect this stone will only improve with time and more practice.

I'll never regret purchasing the stone, I enjoy it every time I pick it up.

These are the most astute words of wisdom I can think of when it comes to honing stones---from gssixgun--

"No amount of money spent on a Stone can ever replace the value of the time it takes learning to use it properly"
Very Respectfully - Glen

Originally Posted by JellyJar

I'm still learning my primitive true hard from Dan's so don't think I'm an expert...disclaimer finished.

I polished mine to 1K and then spent several nights burnishing with a big'ol chunk of carbon steel. Its got a satiny finish with some hazy reflectivity.

For lubrication I've tried water, water/dish soap, Smith's solution, Smith's solution/water, and traditional oil. I don't have very sensitive skin and couldn't really tell much of a difference in the shave. I've been using oil, since I find it easier to see the blade under cut and also easier to feel the blade "stick" to the stone.

I've found this stone really makes me work my Norton 8K to as good a finish as I can get. For a while I was test shaving the 8K edge before moving to the ark. My best edges have been when I can't see the 8K striae and the bevel gets a kind of hazy look. Then I do 50 or so laps on fabric and then stay on leather until the bevel regains it's high polish.

The performance of my edges were a little hit and miss at first, but I went all in the last couple of months with practice and it's paying off. I'm getting much more consistent results and love the feel of the shaves. I expect this stone will only improve with time and more practice.

I'll never regret purchasing the stone, I enjoy it every time I pick it up.

That's a great post... thanks for sharing.

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 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

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.

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.