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10-22-2013, 05:03 PM #1
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!!!Last edited by ecormier; 10-22-2013 at 11:41 PM.