Thread: First time honing

Originally Posted by AusTexShaver

The magic marker test (MMT for short) is not without it's faults. It's possible for the marker to be removed by the slurry even though the edge is not making full contact with the stone.

More important is when using the microscope to inspect the bevel to make sure the scratch marks made by the stone go all the way to the edge.

That's why you wanna do the MMT without slurry.

Originally Posted by Kees

That's why you wanna do the MMT without slurry.

Unless you rinse the stone every 10 laps or so you're gonna have a slurry whether you want one or not. It may not be as thick of one as the traditional type used on a coticule but it's there.

When I'm trying to milk a Norton 8k for every ounce of sharpness it can deliver I use it almost dry (damp rather than wet) and rinse it off every 5 laps.

Well, good news! I pretty much followed all of the advise that everyone gave me and just put everything together the way I thought it should go. I used a slightly worn 1000 grit 3m paper to set the bevel then I went to my 8K with some slurr on it for 15 strokes. I then went back to the 1K for about 10 strokes. By the way I had one layer of scotch tape on the spine while doing all of this. I did about 30 strokes on the 8K again with the slurry and then I can't tell you how many strokes I did after that with the 8K with no slurry and often cleaned the the stone. I went to the strop for a count of 30 on the cloth with white Dovo paste and again to the stone with very little water almost dry and a light touch for 30 more strokes! Man my razor works like a charm! I chaved my face and both my arms! I can't tell you how good it felt to have my blade back and better than it was when I first used it with the factory edge.

Also, the MMt test works very well when you have a microscope and the one I have at work is pretty good. I viewed it on x1 and x3. Crazy how the edge looks. Even when you think it's pretty smooth it looks rough under the scope but every time I honed I viewed it and could see it getting better. I think I'm going to go and get the Chinese 12K this weekend.

And so the addiction begins!

Originally Posted by AusTexShaver

And so the addiction begins!

You said it man. you know when I first starded honing my blade I had to take sleeping pills to go to sleep cause that's all I could think of! Is that dumb?

Originally Posted by RAZOREDGE

You said it man. you know when I first starded honing my blade I had to take sleeping pills to go to sleep cause that's all I could think of! Is that dumb?

Dumb? Maybe...but not in a bad way. As long as you're not hurting yourself too much physically or financially.

Let us know when you start using Rogaine as an aftershave so you can shave more often and I'll arrange an intervention.