First happy honing experience (After bad ordering experience)

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10-22-2013, 05:03 PM
ecormier

First happy honing experience (After bad ordering experience)

Ok boys, pull up your chairs and let me spin a yarn....
I very recently got into straight razor shaving and love it. I got a Theirs-Issard starter kit and within a month have quickly progressed into full blown RAD. My wish is to become totally self sufficient with this 'hobby' so I ordered a Norton 4/8k and a Norton lapping stone. The Lapping stone was a bit of a downer as I realized quickly that it wasn't flat, so I headed out to my closest building supplies shop and bought a marble tile (very flat) and some wet/dry norton 400 sandpaper. I lapped my hone and put it away (I didn't want to try it on my TI razor to start.... I ordered a gold dollar from ebay just to try out the mechanics of the movement first). Next I went online and bought myself a Dovo Pearlex and this is where the story goes awry. It came in the mail and when I opened it, whoever had presharpened it hadn't properly dried it and there was rust on the blade around the clear sticker over the etching. Considering it wasn't bad, I decided to try to buff out the rust. I used scotch pads, tooth paste, tinfoil and a bit of steelwool and cleaned most of it up nicely without touching the etching or goldwash. Then I checked the sharpness and I don't know if it came dull or I dulled it while cleaning the blade, but it wouldn't cut anything. So I thought I'd check Lynn's circle hone video and give it a shot.... To make a long story short (too late I know) I shaved this morning and had a great shave with a very sharp blade after my first honing attempt .... I kept it simple 40 circles each side with pressure on the 4k, 40 circles each side 4k with no pressure, 10-20 X strokes 4k no pressure, and finally 10-20 X strokes 8k no pressure, and finally finished on TI paste and then strop as regular.

I was very happy to not screw up the honing, and even happier because I could shave with the thing.... it can only get better from here on out!! :)
Eugene

PS spoke with the shop I bought the razor, and they gave me a gift certificate for my troubles! yay it gets even better
PPS just waiting now for my next two razors to arrive: the gold dollar for hone practice and a Red Imp. I wonder what to get next...
PPPS Thanks so much for the great video Lynn!!!
10-22-2013, 06:01 PM
bill3152

Worth the time to read it all. Glad to hear thebrazor was salvaged and youbwere able to get the razor into shave shape. The gold dollar is another matter! No factory bevel to speak of and short at the toe on one side. You may want to consider a 1k to be able to live through the job. Lol good luck.
10-22-2013, 08:42 PM
ecormier

Hey bill3152, I'm not actually hoping to get the gold dollar shave ready, I just want to learn how to keep the edge flat to the stone while doing circles and keeping my elbow up etc....
10-22-2013, 10:52 PM
Siguy

It's really quite amazing how quickly one can progress in this sport due to this wonderful site and community.

Thanks, SRP!
10-22-2013, 11:14 PM
eddy79

Sounds like your off to a good start to your honing journey. You never know you might get lucky with the gold dollar.
10-23-2013, 02:13 PM
ecormier

So a bit of an update, I honed my Theirs-Issard last night and got the exact same result, very sharp and a great shave this morning (I most likely dulled the blade of the TI through improper stropping when I was learning). And, I know this is bad, I have another razor coming, this time a Boker tortoise 6/8.... I want to see what a wider blade is like ....
11-15-2013, 02:49 AM
ecormier

So to add a bit to a honing story my dad brought me an old rusty bengall razor which I cleaned and honed, and I got the gold dollar and I got a fine edge on that too. I can already see that getting great at honing is going to take experimentation and time, but just because I watched Lynn's circle honing video, I feel like I got the gist right off the bat. I'm getting edges that are very sharp and 'popping' hair.... Maybe not quite as smooth as my pro honed razors, but I bet that's got to do with the fact that I'm going from a norton 4/8k to strop paste..... I'm already eyeing up something in the 12-16k range. I'm pretty proud of the fact that I'm getting such a good edge (on the gold dollar I had to really use a decent amount of pressure for about 120-160 circles before going to the lighter strokes). I'll up some photos of the razors
11-15-2013, 02:56 AM
ecormier

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Attachment 146352
This is my great grandfathers bengall. I cleaned this up with a dremel and some assorted pastes. I have a new set of scales coming too
11-15-2013, 02:59 AM
ecormier

1 Attachment(s)

Attachment 146353
This is the gold dollar which I just put a very nice edge on (took me about 45 minutes)
11-15-2013, 03:03 AM
ecormier

1 Attachment(s)

Attachment 146354
My collection. These are all since September.... Can we all say RAD! And I have a Wade & Butcher , Dubl Duck, and a Henckels coming in the mail..... The Wade & Butcher will be a big restore job, but I'm looking forward to it. I think I have an illness .... I just love this stuff!!!
11-17-2013, 08:42 PM
smpotvin

Hi,

Glad to hear you are having success at honing!

I was a bit like you, in getting very enthusiastic with this new hobby, but unfortunately, I have not had much success.

I have an old straight that was rusted so I tried the breadknife technique.

So far, I can't get an edge back.

But with your story, and having put it aside for a week, I'll redo my homework (tutorials and videos) and give it another try this week.

Cheers,
12-30-2013, 06:44 PM
Steel

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecormier

Attachment 146353
This is the gold dollar which I just put a very nice edge on (took me about 45 minutes)

I think this is very interesting as I have been researching these razors here on the forum. You have inspired me and I think I may get one just to practice my honing strokes too and who knows...maybe it will be a good one that will take and keep an edge.

Great work and a heck of a collection!!
12-30-2013, 08:00 PM
Steel

Just ordered a GD to practice on. Thanks ecormier!!
01-01-2014, 06:36 AM
jimtro

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecormier

Attachment 146354
My collection. These are all since September.... Can we all say RAD! And I have a Wade & Butcher , Dubl Duck, and a Henckels coming in the mail..... The Wade & Butcher will be a big restore job, but I'm looking forward to it. I think I have an illness .... I just love this stuff!!!

I recognize the GD, Bengal, and Dovo Bismark, what are the others? The one with the red scales looks like a nice shaver.
01-01-2014, 09:59 PM
ecormier

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimtro

I recognize the GD, Bengal, and Dovo Bismark, what are the others? The one with the red scales looks like a nice shaver.

They are from left to right: Case Red Imp, Bengall, Gold Dollar, Boker, Thiers-Issard, and Dovo Pearlex
01-01-2014, 11:21 PM
WadePatton

great idea to grind on the GD for learning. Or one can learn on old steel of various predicaments as i did.

Lynn and Glen's vids were instrumental in my initial learning and most recently to help me understand how to bevel a smiling blade. It came out great- even and sharp and comfy.

(i added my own twist, but then i've always been an independent cuss).

Now you clearly need more razors and hones (and pastes and strops and magnifications):p
01-02-2014, 12:07 AM
ecormier

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Done! Hehe
Attachment 151127