Thread: Need help with hones

another option: norton waterstone combination 4k/8k is two hones in one for less than $100. it should set your bevel and put a decent finish on a razor

Robert,

You make the passes like you are stropping. You will find that the process turns the V edge very shiny and it just works and works well. You musn't do too many strops or you will actally dull the blade.
Five to ten return strops are usually optimum.

I think the porcelain plate method is to use the rough bit of porcelain on the reverse of the plate. It's the rough edge on the circle that the plate sits. In the same way that newspaper will smooth an edge, the porcelain plate trick will put a sharpness on a blade. Some guys will laugh at at this but I'm sure it works to sharpen a knife and I see no reason why it wouldn't work on a razor just so long as you go easy and gentle.

I have seen knife sharpeners in the shops that are just two circles of ceramic that you pull a blade through.
They work well on kitchen knives. The porcelain is a much finer grit without question and should work but I think you will still need a finer grit to get a smooth shave.

Well, I'll try my best to collect all the hones I can get my hands on... But, first things first, the razor must be cleaned and restored and then comes the honing part... I think that there will be no honing until next week... So, I have few more days to collect the wisdom of my elders... I'll post if I come across anything interesting...

Just a note to mention that JoshEarl put together a tutorial: http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-tutorial.html

that may be beneficial to you if you plan on using Chromium oxide.

Saw the tutorial, thanks...
I also found a thread posted by Wildtim (3M Micro Abrasive Film, A Usage Guide and Review) and I decided to give it a shot...
Today I bought wet/dry sandpaper, grit (FEPA/JIS) 600/1200, 800/2000, 1000/3000 and tomorrow I'll look for 1200/4000 and 2000/8000...
I'll try to make a finish with a block of polished marble (grandpa told me that he used it just to retouch the edge of his chisels)...
I believe that the grit of a polished marble could be greater than 12000 (correct me if I'm wrong)...
I will also use that piece of marble as a perfectly flat surface to place my wet sandpaper on...
Will see how it works...
Hope I won't make 3/8" out of 5/8"...

Originally Posted by Robert1988

Hello, it's me again...
I have decided to buy some honing equipment... I did some research and found out that this kind of stuff is very hard to find in Croatia and that this is also very expensive, since I am a student and have pretty tight budget...
So, I was wondering if this kind of stuff will do for honing a razor?

It costs around 200 kn (35$)...

If it's not good for honing a razor I won't buy anything until I'm 100% sure...
Any tips are welcome...
Thanks...

You will need UF or some other finishing. For me the F/UF combo works well for honing. I also plan to try 302M for setting the bevel.

There is a Spyderco dealer (Maestralprom) in Zagreb. Price for 303MF is 206 HRK (cca 36 USD). On the Spyderco site an official price is 39.90 USD (cca 230 HRK). I think the price difference is worth not paying S/H and waiting for.
I bought 302F and 302UF for cca. 130 USD (688 HRK) - if you buy directly from Spyderco then you'll pay 141.90 USD + S/H.

If you want you can contact me on 091/781-5970

Btw. I plan to visit Mr. Martin Morocutti in Vienna (knifeshop.com) in December so if you want I can take him your razor to hone (his price is 19 EUR/razor )

--
Z

Well, I restored my old razor and I tried to hone it, but I failed...
I did the "bread cutting" to even the edge and then honed it with sandpaper...
I didn't want to push it and I gave up pretty soon...
It's still 5/8", but it isn't sharp...
So I tossed away the sandpaper and ordered two stones from Germany...

Combination Stone Naniwa | DICK
and
Japanese Honing Stone King, grit 6000 | DICK

I think that these two should do the job and they don't cost too much...
What do You think?

The 1/3 will be good for setting the bevel and the 6 for sharpening the blade. Try that and see if the crom ox gives you a comfortable shave. I think you might be better served by at least one other finishing stone in between the 6 and the chrom ox. Something like a 12 or better. ChrisL has some of those Chinese 12Ks with slurry stone listed in the classifieds. Many like that stone and it is very reasonable.

Originally Posted by Robert1988

Well, I restored my old razor and I tried to hone it, but I failed...
I did the "bread cutting" to even the edge and then honed it with sandpaper...
I didn't want to push it and I gave up pretty soon...
It's still 5/8", but it isn't sharp...
So I tossed away the sandpaper and ordered two stones from Germany...

Combination Stone Naniwa | DICK
and
Japanese Honing Stone King, grit 6000 | DICK

I think that these two should do the job and they don't cost too much...
What do You think?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think you will need a lapping hone (diamond?) to use those stones.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
--
Z

Yes, I also think that they have to be lapped, so I ordered this, just in case...

Trueing Grille for Sharpening Stones | DICK

I think this set would be nice combination with a paddle strop dad found for me...
One side leather and one side linen...
Too bad he didn't have enough money with him to buy it, but the man said that he would keep it for him 'till the next weekend...
The man also said that he has about a dozen of old straight razors at home and that he will try to find them...