Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11
Like Tree14Likes

Thread: Do Arks annoy anyone else

  1. #1
    STF
    STF is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth STF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Kingsville On, Canada
    Posts
    2,435
    Thanked: 207

    Default Do Arks annoy anyone else

    Maybe it's just me and I am doing it wrong but it doesn't matter what lube I use with my Arks it takes all the polish off my blade.

    I have used glycerin, dilute washing up liquid, Smiths and mineral oil but whatever I use the blade ends up dull.

    I spent 30 minutes with the metal polish this morning trying to bring the polish back without losing a finger in the process.

    I wanted to compare my Ark edge to my Coti edge. Probably more trouble than it was worth actually.
    I felt the Ark edge was very very sharp but the Coti edge although not quite as sharp as the Ark is still very sharp but also a lot more comfortable.

    Honing on an Ark also takes a lot longer than honing on a Coti.

    I used the Unicot Method with my Coti this morning because it is the easiest until I get more time with it.
    PaulFLUS likes this.
    - - Steve

    You never realize what you have until it's gone -- Toilet paper is a good example

  2. #2
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Arkies are more about the Stone prep than the stone

    I stopped using Oil Stones for quite some time until I found the Smith's honing solution, I just didn't want oil near my water stones at all

    I use them on occasion now but oil stones especially the Noviculites need a ton of prep to get the best out of them.. IE: Burnish the surface more
    "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

    Proprietor - GemStar Custom Razors Honing/Restores/Regrinds Website

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

    STF (04-28-2021)

  4. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth PaulFLUS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    5,872
    Thanked: 594

    Default

    Can't say I ever noticed that particular issue. Of course maybe I'm just thick.
    Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend. PR 27:17

  5. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    270
    Thanked: 44

    Default

    I mostly use Arkansas stones, I like using oil, I think it is less messy than water, especially compared to using synthetic waterstones. I think most people hate the feeling of oil on their fingers so it seems messier than water but it's really just the feeling. I use a dropper to dispense my oil. I use pure neatsfoot oil. You don't have to worry about water evaporating off of the stone in the summer (get's very hot here in MT). You don't have to worry whether a stray bit of water got into the pivot. Oil on Arkansas stones feels right. I've tried water, glycerin, soap and water, simple green, ballistol water emulsion, but oil just feels right and works well. The only stones I use with water are a small, narrow Thuringian and my coti if I'm needing slurry, but I do also use oil on the same coti if I use it to finish. I never bothered burnishing my stones although some people like to do that. The Hard stones I lapped up to 600 grit. The soft Arkansas and my Washita I lapped to 320 grit. You could lap them then just run a chisel back over them for 30 seconds with plenty of oil just to knock down any high points, doesn't take much. They stay flat a long time and give better results the more you use them.

  6. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth outback's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Akron, Ohio
    Posts
    11,924
    Thanked: 4300

    Default

    Yeah, I have that problem when I use oil.

    Just wash your hands with soap n water, and do your blades at the same time.
    Euclid440 likes this.
    Mike

  7. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth PaulFLUS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    5,872
    Thanked: 594

    Default

    I use a variety of things for lube depending on where I am in the progression. Usually I start out with Smith's or Norton with varying amounts of WD-40 added. I find the mixture to work better than either by itself for the heavy lifting. For finishing I often switch to dawn and water and end under running water.
    I guess you would call what I do burnishing. I lap them on SIC then run one side (on those I want different sides effect on) on W/D wet up to whatever effect I want it to have. The problem I have more than others is keeping them rough enough, on the ones I use for bevel set and mid range at least. After a certain amount of honing they are too smooth and I will go back to the SIC to roughen them up some. On the trans and black I leave those as burnished as possible.
    Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend. PR 27:17

  8. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    270
    Thanked: 44

    Default

    What's the texture like on the Smiths honing solution, is it oily or more like water?

  9. #8
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by thp001 View Post
    What's the texture like on the Smiths honing solution, is it oily or more like water?
    I am pretty sure it is a Glycerin/Soap mixture, what is really nice is that it can be adjusted with a few drops of water to thin it down

    It is damn cheap too
    rolodave and jfk742 like this.
    "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

    Proprietor - GemStar Custom Razors Honing/Restores/Regrinds Website

  10. #9
    Senior Member blabbermouth PaulFLUS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Gainesville, FL
    Posts
    5,872
    Thanked: 594

    Default

    Thinner than 3-in-1 but not like WD-40. BTW I find WD-40 to be too thin in its own but Smith's thinned with WD is money.
    Last edited by PaulFLUS; 04-29-2021 at 03:36 AM.
    Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend. PR 27:17

  11. #10
    Senior Member blabbermouth Kees's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    5,474
    Thanked: 656

    Default

    When used with oil the pores of the hone get filled with a mixture of swarf and oil that produces a glass like surface slowing down the performance of the Arkie. I used to put them in the diswasher to accelerate performance. Eventually I started using them with water exclusively. Sold them some years ago as I no longer used them.
    Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •