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Hello Everybody;
So among several SR I have a Gold Dollar that as you can imagine is not sharp.
I have access to a set of sharpening stones that are typically used for kitchen knives. The highest grind is 4000.
Then I have a yellow lake hone that is rated at 12000.
Do you think I could get close to a shave ready with the 4000 and the 12000 grit stones.
I donīt care so much about a perfect result as long as it is shavable and I could include the GD into my rotation.
Thanks for the feed back.
The vast majority of Gold Dollar razors will not sit flat on a hone due to the atrocious grinding. The shoulders of the razor sit too proud and need grinding down. I'd suggest you get yourself a decent condition vintage razor to practice honing on.
Now you'll struggle to get a shave ready razor with just a 4000 and 12000 grit stones. You'll need something to set the bevel on the razor and for that you need something around 1000 grit.
What johnmrson said!
John and I had this very discussion this afternoon while examining a fresh-from-the-net GD. The grinding around the heel area of these razors is really primitive and it would be very difficult to hone one correctly without significant adjustments. Take note of his advice regarding hones too - a 1000 stone is usually regarded as the standard grit for setting the bevel - a 4000 is a bit too fine.
Thanks for the comments.
I had an experienced friend with SR have a look to the GD.
It seems that the GD is straight and we have leveled the shoulder with a dremel so it is ready to go.
I have access to a 700, 1200, 4000 (very basic water stones intended for knife sharpening Tienda - A PEDRA DAS MEIGAS) and 12000 grind stones.
What do you think, can I get close to a shave ready with that?
Thanks
4000 will almost do. Make a so called balsa strop (Easily make a pasted balsa strop - Straight Razor Place Library) with a high grit abrasive (What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Library) and you are good to go. Pasted strops are the traditional way of maintaining an edge in Europe - check out the French, German or Spanish forums.Quote:
Originally Posted by Icarusflies
I got chromium oxide on balsa wood but shouldn t I use it after some passes on my yello lake (12000)...so go 1200, 4000, Yellow lake and then chromium oxide?
Keep it simple. People have shaved with razors honed on "8000 grit hones" (they weren't even around back then) for centuries.
As to chromium oxide: no. Do read the article on pastes or sprays, you'd be looking for 6 or 3 micron pastes, not a very mild abrasive like chromium oxide. After the 4k hone, you still have more work to do than chromium oxide would sensibly permit. Alternatively, get a cheap 8k hone somewhere.
Hand the razor and your stones to your experienced friend and see what he can do :)
Try the 1200, 4000 and 12000. As there's a big jump between the 4000 and 12000, you'll need to do quite a lot of laps on the 12000. Set the bevel with the 1200. You should be able to comfortably shave hair arm after that stone.
Thank you, that is what I wanted to hear.
The thing is that for the moment I donīt want to invest in an 8000 hone since I am not sure I ll use it again but I have the stones I mentioned earlier and this GD that is seating there...
A slurry on the yellow lake will help speed it up a bit. Good luck
Hones used for knives are not always flat. Be sure to lap your hones before you use them for sharpening a straight razor. Checking to see how well you can hone using a GD may not be anything more than an exercise in futility. If you want to learn to hone start with a nice razor and learn the gymnastics later when you want a challenge. Good luck. I hope you can get it going without much problems. Honing is fulfilling and I enjoy it a lot.
Thanks for the info about the hones for knives...I ll make sure it is flat.Quote:
Originally Posted by RezDog
Not trying to be a Debbie downer but you will struggle immensely with that GD. I spent near 40 hours, modifying, grinding and then finally all the hours later honing it. Not a task I would have undertook even 4 months ago. I have thrown 3 GD's into a lake in frustration. I finally nailed one so I'd put it away until you're a little more experienced but at 3 bucks a piece give'r. Just don't be disappointed when it kicks your butt and still shaves like crap. A well needed good luck.
Scott
You could have saved those 3 Gold Dollars to fillet the fish from that lake,,,:shrug:
Trust me it wouldn't have made it. I tried cutting a peach with my GD before I honed it. Let's just say it was a bad experience... Some things are best left at the bottom of a lake. Bodies, old tires, GD 66's..Quote:
Originally Posted by Hirlau
Dang I was saving my 500th post for something special..
Do you think I could get close to a shave ready with the 4000 and the 12000 grit stones?
No.
I experienced hand, possibly…
If the stones are natural stones they cannot be grit rated and will make your learning to hone more problematic, because the grit is unknown. If you can find a low grit set the bevel on it and polishes on progressively higher grits. If your Yellow Lake is most probably not 12k and you will need a high grit finisher.
Read the first 3 threads in the honing forum and watch the honing videos in the Library.
You are doing everything this forum advises not to do to learn to hone. If you have an experienced friend, have him give you some hands on instruction, with his equipment.
Good luck.
Thanks for all the feed back