I just can't get the razor sharp!

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Originally Posted by keykenny

Alright thanks for all the feedback guys. Am I underestemating the technique and position? How much can a pass that is "uneven" (one side is further than the other, or one side is not fully on the stone) off-set the sharpness?r

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I'm not sure about offsetting sharpness, it's more about making sure all parts of the edge get a consistent go on the hone so that there's not one area duller than another. Assuming, of course, that the razor is flat on the hone. One of the things that reassured me when I started was that the spine creates the right angle for the edge, so that simply lying the razor on the hone is all you need to worry about in that regard.

It's the moving the razor smoothly and evenly and lightly while keeping both the edge and the spine in contact with the hone that can get tricky.

Also, a lot of guys use an X pattern (see randydance's avatar, or pictures in the library of this site). I do, mainly because my blades are wider than the hone, but the cutting angle on an X pattern seems to work too. This can also be a bit tricky initially because the tip and the heel take turns at not being on the hone, whereas the middle part of the blade pretty much is always in contact. But it's not as major an issue as you might think, so long as you concentrate on keeping the blade flat on the hone at all times. Using two hands, one at the heel and one at the tip, can help here - just be careful if you do use two hands to be aware of the potential extra pressure you might be imparting.

James.

Yea, I´d have to agree with Lynn on this one. He´s probably honed a few thousand razors more than most of us and if he hasn´t found the perfect pattern yet then there´s a good chance that none of us will either.

Get yourself a 9 dollar microscope from radio shack and look at the edge too. You may be surprised at what you see under the 100x lens.

Glen F

I am reading this thread and I keep hearing about Belgain or yellow coticule. Are these the same? Where do you get them? I have a Norton 4000/8000 and a strop, however I do not have a pasted strop nor do I have the above mentiond stones. Do I need a 1200 stone? Hope you guys can help. I am in the same dilemma as our friend who started this thread.

Thanks
Al in Cal:shrug:

Hi Al,

I only use a 4/8K Norton and get nice shaves. That's not to say I mightn't get better shaves using a 12k, just that for me the 8k (and stropping, of course) is enough.

James.

I have found success with a pasted paddle strop in addition to my norton. I find that it is easier to do fine tuning with the pasted paddle after you get it decently sharp on the norton. I get it to the point that it will shave arm hair on the norton, and then take it to my pasted paddle for fine tuning. If I some how develop a wire edge on the paddle, then I go back to the Norton for a small pyramid of 3/3 1/3 1/5 and this seems to do the trick. I then go back to the paddle but do less passes.

I have found that moving from the 1 micron side to the .5 diamond and then to the .5 chromium works very well for me as far as fine polishing. I have only honed two razor so far, but the difference in hardness was quite noticeable, and so I had to adjust the number of passes to compensate. Experience proves to be the best instructor as usual.

Matt

Dang it Lynn,

I went up and did a couple of 4K/8K iterations and sure enough I got a razor shaving like a dream. Technique, luck, ? Oh well. There are lots of ways to hone I suppose.

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Originally Posted by FUD

Yea, I´d have to agree with Lynn on this one. He´s probably honed a few thousand razors more than most of us ...

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And I'd have to add "put together" on the end of that.

X

But did we ever solve this guys problem?

I think the guy's problem is he violated the first rule of honing, don't go and buy a spanking new quality razor and take it to a hone not knowing what he is doing.

Honing takes time and patience and you have to just practice, initially with a junk razor just to get the general idea of what your doing and then with a decent but still crummy razor just to get a result before to attack the quality stuff.

I agree with the pyramid thing. I never use the 4K unless the razor really needs major work. Most of the time a little work on the coticule and or 8K will do the trick.

My only other comment as lynn said each razor is an individual and each requires something different. Thats what makes honing an art.

Can you expound a bit on how you're using two hands? You don't mean you're holding onto the spine over the blade, or do you? I thought that was a no-no because you'd apply too much pressure? (Remembering from Lynn's video)