I have a Pike Norton Washita, a hard Ark and a Trans.

I use them all as double sided so I get 6 stones for the price of 3 and i start the washita at 220 for the first side.

Anyone have any suggestions what I should do on the finer side of the Washita so I can get an edge quite a long way with it.

I would also appreciate some advice on what I should do for the two sides of both the hard and trans.

I don't burnish any of them.

I have one final question, when I use my Arks the polish is removed from my blades and they go darker and dull. I can polish them back up with chrome polish and a lot of work, but I don't like to, especially on a newly honed Trans edge. Does anyone else experience this and how can I avoid it.

I have used Glycerin, Dish soap and water, smiths, and mineral oil to the same effect. Maybe it's because I spend such a long time honing with the Arks?