Arkansas Hones

[kupferrules]

Okay, I know that there are several posts about Arkansas. I have one issue that I couldnt find. I need to order online...from someone who will lap it before mailing it to me.

Okay, back story. I am currently deployed to Afghanistan. I have always wanted to try a straight razor and figured now was the time to give it a shot. Needless to say my venture had a few journey mates; two of my buddies decided to give it a shot. It turns out people on here are right, "shave ready" does actually mean that it is ready to shave (well at least). My first shave was okay but definately needed to be honed (I bled a little). There was some pulling. My aunt who knew I wanted to get into the straight razor sent me a FROMM hair straight razor with disposable blades. I have been using with great success (It's so smooth/sharp I cant even tell I am cutting myself...hahaha).

So, to the point. I need to hone this blade (DOVO Best Quality). And my buddies need to hone theirs. I am looking at the Arkansas Black Surgical and a Translucent. Everyone says they need to be lapped before use. Does anyone know where I can order these two hones online, and I can get the seller to lap it before sending? Thank you in advance. Oh, and i love the straight...no matter how much red I see.

 

[Wid]

If they need a complete honing you will need more than the hard arkansas stone, it would take forever to do so with just this stone. You could take a look at lapping films to get you and your buds by till you get back to the states. Or if you want, send me the razors and I'll hone them for free and send them back at my expense. Just pm me if that's what you want. I can put an arkie edge on them for you.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I'd recommend you take Wid up on the offer as well as picking up a lapped arkansas (Or any of countless other hones that can fill this role, but if arkansas is your preference, it will work fine) for when the razors eventually need the edge refreshed (after they're honed if they aren't damaged in some way, they can be kept going for decades with just a finishing hone for touchups). Used daily I would guess you'll be touching up every 1-2 months on the stone. Just a few dozen passes back and forth with the razor held flat and no pressure.


I'm assuming you guys have a linen and leather strop (this is typically done between every shave... 30 strokes on linen and then 30 on the leather is a recommended starting point and then increase or decrease as you find best).

 

[kupferrules]

Wid, thank you for your generous offer. The issue I have, is my FOB doesnt have a post office. It just has a little drop box for letters. I will look into the lapping films. Any recommendations?

Ian, yes, I purchase a linen and leather strop. Ark seems to be my preference for price. It seems to be good for price. I dont want something to break in transit home and be a waste of $200. If I were stateside, I'd be more apt to purchase a better set up.
Okay, So the razor shaved my face. However, I could tell it was pulling a bit. So, I think (I am new...I could be way wrong) a 4K/8K could bring it up to speed. Let me know if I am wrong.

-Frank

 

[Wid]

I have some lapping film to send you. Pm me you address.

 

[paco664]

lapping film is what you need.... literally it is a ultra high grade sandpaper that will take you from bevel setting to finished edge and give you a really really nice edge....

it is portable with no worry of breakage.... all you need to use it is a piece of glass or marble or other FLAT surface...

i have some around the house i am not using and i would be more than happy to PIF it to you if you will give me your mailing address in a PM....


thank you for your service to our country...
Brian..

 

[kupferrules]

Rick, I sent you a PM. Thank you for the offer.

Brian, Thank you for the offer also. I sent Rick a PM with my address. You are all too kind on this board. It is a very nice feeling to ask questions and not get yelled at as occurs on other boards.

 

[Wid]

Got it packed and ready to go. I am sending 5-3-1 um so if you need a bevel setter maybe Pacco has some 9 and or 12um he can send.

 

[kupferrules]

Thank you Rick!

 

[jred]

You are all too kind on this board. It is a very nice feeling to ask questions and not get yelled at as occurs on other boards.

It's kind of like how everyone is always polite in a gun store. Everyone here is proficient with *extremely* sharp blades....

The films should work pretty well, don't break, and are easy to use. When you get back, then you can get a set of rocks if you still want to. A lot of people love the film, though.

As the others have said, many, many thanks to you and your buddies for your service.

 

[paco664]

Got it packed and ready to go. I am sending 5-3-1 um so if you need a bevel setter maybe Pacco has some 9 and or 12um he can send.

I have the same as you... Maybe a quick look around someone will donate a 1k to send with that our singeing he can set bevels with..

 

[kupferrules]

Okay, newbie question: Does a DOVO Best Quality out of the box need to have the bevel set? I was under the impression that it just needed some final honing. I will now defer to the knowledge of those who have been doing this MUCH longer than I have.

-Frank

 

[Slash McCoy]

Okay, newbie question: Does a DOVO Best Quality out of the box need to have the bevel set? I was under the impression that it just needed some final honing. I will now defer to the knowledge of those who have been doing this MUCH longer than I have.

-Frank

Does a bear poo in the woods? Not only must the bevel be set, but often a lot of steel has to be removed from spine or shoulder. I have had two like that. A new Best can be a real booger to get whipped into shape. Maybe yours won't be that much trouble, but most assuredly the bevel must be set on a new one.

 

[Alum of Potash]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that the factory Dovo does not need as much initial honing attention as some are saying; just a touch-up in other words (of course, if it has been damaged by shaving or stropping, that's another matter). I've watched a dealer in France take T-Is and Dovos straight from the box and make Dovos shave-ready with just a loom strop laden with Puma green no. 3 extrafein, whereas the T-Is needed more attention.

To return to the Arkansas stone question mentioned in the original post, here's an idea: pick up a soft/true-hard Ark combo stone from Dan's and use it "as is" for starters (they're finished on ~150x wheels, a "fresh" wheel for the soft side, and a "worn" wheel for the true hard side) to see what happens. Sometimes I wonder if our forebears were really as concerned with lapping from the start as we are today. Get one or two large bottles of Dan's honing oil blend as well--although perhaps there is something analogous closer to hand (a 1:1 blend of mineral oil and kerosene will work)--and soak the stone in the oil blend for around two-three days to saturate the soft side. Hone with this oil blend and start out with light X-strokes on the true-hard side to see if the edge is improved already (note: this assumes that the blade's edge is freely shaving arm hair already and has not been damaged). If not, switch to half-strokes with a little bit of pressure ending with light X-strokes with no pressure on the same true-hard side. If there is still no improvement, switch to the soft side to set a new bevel using half-strokes followed by X-strokes as described before. Then return to true-hard side, etc. Wear nitrile gloves if the oil-kerosene mixture is a problem. Follow this by stropping on leather prior to shaving, and then on crox on balsa or crox on leather paddle as needed.

 

[kupferrules]

Oh man... One of the guys on this adventure with me just "sharpened" his straight with a knife stone...said medium and fine...and eyed it. I feel he is gonna regret that.

 

[paco664]

Oh man... One of the guys on this adventure with me just "sharpened" his straight with a knife stone...said medium and fine...and eyed it. I feel he is gonna regret that.

i foresee much styptic in someones future....

 

[Slash McCoy]

Oh man... One of the guys on this adventure with me just "sharpened" his straight with a knife stone...said medium and fine...and eyed it. I feel he is gonna regret that.

"That which does not kill us, makes us stronger."

If your buddy shaves with that edge every day for a couple of months he will be one tough hombre.

 

[kupferrules]

My buddy who bought a DOVO and I just stared in disbelief. He said it felt sharp enough...I have serious doubts.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Oh man... One of the guys on this adventure with me just "sharpened" his straight with a knife stone...said medium and fine...and eyed it. I feel he is gonna regret that.

Had one of my fathers younger coworkers bring me a nice new dovo and ask me why it wasn't shaving well. He said he had been honing it and everything. He had a 600grit Ceramic/aluminum oxide pocket knife stone he was quite proud of. He was also honing with the spine raised, like a knife. The scary thing is he actually had shaved a few times. He thought there was a 50% chance it was just his shaving technique causing him irritation.

 

[paco664]

Had one of my fathers younger coworkers bring me a nice new dovo and ask me why it wasn't shaving well. He said he had been honing it and everything. He had a 600grit Ceramic/aluminum oxide pocket knife stone he was quite proud of. He was also honing with the spine raised, like a knife. The scary thing is he actually had shaved a few times. He thought there was a 50% chance it was just his shaving technique causing him irritation.

i think there was 100% chance of him being absolutely wrong..... lol....