How Dave got his honing mojo back

I finally got my honing mojo back. I posted a question about the blade a few days ago and got some informative responses. I have been shaving with it for a few days now but it was still not quite there. I use to shave with a straight years ago and went to disposables long ago for convince.

This evening I sat back down with my whetstone and DMT to start over. I used my DMT1200 to set the bevel again; I wanted to make sure I had all the old hone damage off the edge. After working that until I was comfortable with the resulting bevel I went to my Norton 4K/8K whetstone. I spent another hour working on that slowly and methodically honing down the DMT striations then when to the 8K for final polishing. Slowly, surely, gently I worked the striations down to a silver sheen. Then a stropping with polish, wipe and strop with my old horsehide strop.

The resulting edge was mirror smooth in appearance. So to test, I plucked a hair, held it tight, gently stroked it down against the blade, Ting! The hair jumped in half. I think that will do. Now I have my eye on a couple of ivory scaled blades on eBay.

I almost wish I did not have a beard, more face to shave. I thought about trimming it off but then I remembered, I am butt ugly without it. That might be why I have had a trimmed and cropped beard for 13 years, my kids have not even seen me without one.

I am actually enjoying shaving again. Now I need to get a few more accessories. I desperately need to get a shaving mug/brush/soap. I am still using *Gasp* Edge shaving gel. But I still get a closer shave than any disposable or electric. I can see having a $200+ blade in a year.

Congratulations on your success!:) It really is satisfying when the razor is made shave ready by your own hand.

Congrats! I always say its about the Mojo! Well, no I don't but I"m just rolling with the thread. Nice work!

Thanks, there is nothing more satisfying than doing it yourself. It really is not that hard, you just have to take your time and use a gentile touch.

I went upstairs and showed the wife, ‘look hun!’ pluck a hair from my head, ouch, Tink. It jumps in half. She just sits there staring at it, ‘uuu, ok, good for you’. She was overjoyed. She thinks I am quite insane for some reason.:confused:

You plucked a hair from your head. I walk into the kitchen the other day, pluck a hair from the wifes head, and do the hanging hair test, she did not know what to say, it must have been because she was blown away by my great honing job.

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Originally Posted by Justfreewheelin

You plucked a hair from your head. I walk into the kitchen the other day, pluck a hair from the wifes head, and do the hanging hair test, she did not know what to say, it must have been because she was blown away by my great honing job.

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Hahahahahahahaha. Yeah, that had to be it. :)

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Originally Posted by Justfreewheelin

You plucked a hair from your head. I walk into the kitchen the other day, pluck a hair from the wifes head, and do the hanging hair test, she did not know what to say, it must have been because she was blown away by my great honing job.

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If she's anything like my wife, you'll hear what she's got to say in the fullness of time, my friend :eek:

Congrats Dave :tu

James.

That's brave - don't think I would have the gusto to walk into her kitchen and pluck one of her hairs to do the HHT!

Congrats Dave - and welcome back to straight shaving!

Mark

Dropping ones razor while stropping it tends to ruin your edge, I was lucky it did not break but it did cut a 2 inch long slice in the toilet seat. So out came the whetstone again. But it is good and sharp once again. I am having a problem with the very end of the blade. The last quarter inch is proving to be difficult, hopefully I can pick up a tip or two at the Ohio get-together this weekend.

I resurfaced and conditioned my old horse hide strop. Nice and pliable and smooth as a freshly shaven face now. I have two more razors in transit and just made three sets of wood scales. This is getting addictive.

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Originally Posted by cannonfodder

I am having a problem with the very end of the blade. The last quarter inch is proving to be difficult, hopefully I can pick up a tip or two at the Ohio get-together this weekend.

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I can't imagine a higher concentration of 'Honemeisterness" anywhere...someone should be able to help you out.