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Best Progression Using My Stones

The learning is endless! I got some great advice here on the forum when searching for a natural finisher (as I’m sure you already know) - Dan’s Whetstone (if you’re in the market for a great Ark), is where I picked up my 6x2 black surgical. Beautiful stone and they are wonderful to work with at Dan’s.
I should have spent the money and went with Dan's Ark. I only hear great things about them. But I cheaped out when I thought I found a great deal on Etsy and jumped on it, only to find out it's not a good one.

Oh well...😕
 

duke762

Rose to the occasion
Have you tried it yet? Don't sweat it until it's proven substandard. I feel Vintage Norton's are the best deal available if you are looking for value and performance. But I do want to try Dan's,..... for scientific reasons..............
 
Have you tried it yet? Don't sweat it until it's proven substandard. I feel Vintage Norton's are the best deal available if you are looking for value and performance. But I do want to try Dan's,..... for scientific reasons..............
I have actually tried it, and I don't think it's a piece of garbage as was suggested. It has given me my razor a nice edge.

Could it be better? Maybe. I just don't have enough experience to truly know. The only other stone I have that I can compare it to is my Vermont Slate and it seems to compare pretty well. Maybe the Vermont gives me a bit more of a comfortable shave, but I have to do more honing to see if that will always be the case.

Are the Norton vintage stones Arks, or something else? I always thought Norton only made synthetics. I have a lot to learn!🙂
 
A few nice vintage Translucents have sold on eBay recently, past week.

A very nice vintage 6X2x1/2” for $77 and a 1x3x1 for $5 and a few others in between.
If you are just finishing on an Ark, you do not need a large stone, the 6X2 is plenty.

Lots of vintage Translucents in the wild, vintage blacks can be hard to find.

Couple weeks ago I bought a Vintage 6x2 for $20. 6x2 is all you need to finish.
 
I have a couple of vintage Norton Arks - one, an HB6 branded Bear (Behr, Troy NY), and one unbranded 5x2, but by the looks of the original wooden box I believe it is an old Pike Norton. Both were gifted to me and I use them often. Once I learned how to use them, I love 'em. I'll never let them go!
 
A few nice vintage Translucents have sold on eBay recently, past week.

A very nice vintage 6X2x1/2” for $77 and a 1x3x1 for $5 and a few others in between.
If you are just finishing on an Ark, you do not need a large stone, the 6X2 is plenty.

Lots of vintage Translucents in the wild, vintage blacks can be hard to find.

Couple weeks ago I bought a Vintage 6x2 for $20. 6x2 is all you need to finish.
Nice prices.

I paid $80 for my Pinnacle 6x2x1/2 . I'm not sure how vintage it is though. I'm thinking 10 years old from what I can guess. I thought I got a good deal, but maybe not.
 
I have a couple of vintage Norton Arks - one, an HB6 branded Bear (Behr, Troy NY), and one unbranded 5x2, but by the looks of the original wooden box I believe it is an old Pike Norton. Both were gifted to me and I use them often. Once I learned how to use them, I love 'em. I'll never let them go!
I'm looking for a stone where I could say, "I love em", but I'm not quite there.

It could be I'm just not that good at honing yet. Maybe my stones are better than I think and I just need practice.

I have no problem getting my razors really sharp, but to get them consistently comfortable is the issue. Sometimes they are really good, and sometimes they're just not. Just yesterday my shave was dragging and not very smooth. It's frustrating, but I guess that's part of the process.

I think the mark for me is when I can go ATG on my mustache in comfort. Then I'll know I did a great job honing. I haven't gotten there yet. The razor sticks and stutters badly doing that. Everywhere else is really pretty good though.
 
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