I ordered some Smith's solution for the same reasons. Oil makes less of a mess during honing but the clean up is way worse. Water dries out, oil lingers on everything.
Hopefully smith's isn't too messy.
Hopefully smith's isn't too messy.
Finally bought an Ark
- Thread starter David
- Start date
Most people use way too much oil. For finishing you don't need more than several drops maximum. I never get any oil anywhere but the top of finishing stones. A quick couple drops of clean oil and a paper towel wipe after honing and bob's your uncle. It's a different story for something like a Washita where there's a lot of steel coming off that needs to be floated away, but I'm still going to be using oil there as well, I just stick a paper towel under the stone for insurance, but maybe about 5% of the time does oil ever get anywhere but the top of the stone even then.
I agree 2-3 drops is plenty on a trans ark for finishing and any more is just a waste if its a good hard stone.
- Thread starter
- #244
Aephilli was nice enough to send me this beautiful pink trans to try out for a couple of months. It needs a bit more lapping/conditioning before I can put a razor to it, but this is one of the prettiest stones I've ever held. It feels like a really hard waxy moon rock. I appreciate the opportunity to try it out
Attachments
That thing is stunning! I would kill for that. I have been thinking of getting a vintage trans black or butterscotch. Pink would be way cooler though.
Not that my white vintage Norton is bad. I am just curious what a surgical or different colored trans is like.
Not that my white vintage Norton is bad. I am just curious what a surgical or different colored trans is like.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
+1 !!! That's the prettiest ark I've ever seen.
Cheers, Steve
Cheers, Steve
That's a nice stone!
THAT is pretty!
You know we are going to need the follow-up report on how it works.
You know we are going to need the follow-up report on how it works.
While I definitely agree that the above stone is very pretty, it's not the prettiest Ark I've ever seen. For me, that distinction belongs to this stone:
Absolutely gorgeous!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Looks just as nice IMO. Someone needs to sell me a pink ark now please. 
My HAD is acting up again...
My HAD is acting up again...
- Thread starter
- #251
Pretty stone Eric
Only two, the top pair were one before I decided it was too long and cut it. (and now wish I had gone 7/4 instead of 8/3)
I think it was this thread where someone (several people?) said how great Ark edges were, so I was browsing evilbay and found things...
Actually, both are shown earlier in this thread.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/411061-Why-did-no-one-want-this-Arkie?highlight=arkie
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #255
I've been eagerly awaiting this one. This is my first 'modern' ark from Dans, a 6x3 black. I sent an email stating I wanted a really dense stone for razor finishing, and they delivered. For all intents and purposes this stone was dead flat on both sides and there were no visible saw marks-anywhere. I've been conditioning the surface with a carbon steel kitchen cleaver and I think it's almost there. I just finished a dorko on it with 150 (ish) circles each way and will shave test tonight.
Now I have to get aephilli's pink flat and conditioned 💪
Now I have to get aephilli's pink flat and conditioned 💪
Attachments
How un flat was it? Maybe I need to revisit my lapping technique?
(I know it wasn't smooth/conditioned completely yet)
*runs out to shop to start comparing straightedges*
- Thread starter
- #257
Bad choice of words. (Sorry). Yes it's flat, I'm just trying to get this scratch out of it.
That is a gorgeous stone.
- Thread starter
- #259
Thank you. I'm very pleased with it so far. I'm curious to see how it stacks up against my vintage nortons.
Whew! *makes relief/wiping forhead gesture*
that scratch (I thought there were 2) is why it's not smooth, I lapped it 3 more times trying to get rid of it. you have a belt sander? want me to order you a SC belt and send it to you? that was what I was gonna try next
