Thread: Woo-Hoo, A Milestone Shave

Just need to tell somebody. I'm still quite new at this but today I finally built up the nerve to do an against the grain pass. It went well, though with a lot of switching hands and re-positioning the blade to find the right movements.

I have a Lynn honed Dovo and two e-bay finds that I have tried to hone myself on a Norton 4k/8k with so-so results. Last night's shave with one of the e-bays (a Boker Red Injun) left me with more stubble than acceptable so today I went back to the pro-honed Dovo just to see the difference. The WTG and the cross grain went quite well so I decided it was time to try the ATG. Glad I did. Feels like I've made a big step in my learning journey.

Oh, and I ordered a Naniwa 12k stone because I really want to make the e-bay finds work as well as the Dovo.

It has been said over and over. Concentrate on learning to shave. Leave the honeing for the future.

You should be able to get a nice shave off the Norton. And I wouldn't add too much to the mix until you get the basics down. I used the 4/8k for a year before I moved up and glad I did. Try the pyramid method to get started with the hones and watch things like staying level all the way across and how the blade feels as it goes across the hone. You get all that and your going somewhere.
Congrats though, your next mile stone maybe when you realize a 1/2 hour after you shave how good your face feels :<0)

Stick with it and you'll get it.

Lots of people say to wait on honing. I started honing at the exact same time I started shaving with straights. Some people have the ability to learn how to hone much faster than others, so I don't believe in telling all beginners to not hone. Some will struggle and get frustrated, some will thrive. Do what you want to do, and enjoy it.

Braz, the 12k will only make the edge smoother, not sharper. If the bevel was not set correctly to begin with all subsequent and finer stones will not make it any sharper. If you do more research you will see a number of threads about bevel setting and an experiment about shaving at each step of honing. Have done the experiment myself of setting the bevel on a 4k and shaving with it. It shaved and felt rough. Then moved up to the 8k and shaved with that. A remarkable shave that I can be satisfied with. Adding the 12k doesn't do more than make it smoother. Smooth does not equate to sharp. I've also have set a bevel on a different razor and thought I had it set and went on to the 8k and 12k. I was "rewarded" with a nicely smooth but non cutting shave. Enough stubble left over to do another shave immediately. It all starts with the bevel. Set it correctly and you can smooth it out to your hearts content on a 12k, 16k, or 30k but always remember that if the bevel wasn't correct you won't get the shave you expect.

Congrats on finally getting an ATG shave!
It will get easier and faster with continued practice.