Thread: Newbie Honing Kit

i didn't see this early.most advise is right but do this too.buy cheap razor and try to hone them.it will help you how to progress .Please buy microscope to see what are you doing with the edge.i am not home and using phone line.i hate it.when i got home i will read all messages and try to help you.good luck and never give up.

Cornelius, the DMT's are a major PITA to hone with until they are (use Mike Meyer's Shrek voice for this next part) *really really* broken in. Even then, they are pretty darn aggressive. I have the best success with the DMT's when I use a 45 degree, heel leading stroke. Either straight down the hone, or X pattern if the blade is warped. Also use some dishwashing liquid in the water lube. Using the dishwashing liquid and the heel leading stroke will take some of the bite out of the DMT's.

It takes *alot* of work to break in DMT's. Much more than sharpening a few kitchen knives.

Personally, I think you have a great setup. That coticule should refine the rough DMT edge very well.

Edit: Pay extra attention to breaking in the edges of the DMT's. The ninety degree drop off on the edges of the DMT's are very unforgiving of any error in an X stroke. I've broken my 8E and EE in on the edges to the point that there is hardly any diamond/nickel plating left on about the last 1/8 " before the edge.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i didn't see this early.most advise is right but do this too.buy cheap razor and try to hone them.

But... that's exactly what I did! I dont know what's going on with this razor, but it looks cast rather than forged to me. Maybe one of these Pakistani blades I keep reading about? Or perhaps a Chinese product? What I find most strange is the absence of any clearly marked brand.

And I dont have any other dull razor left to try, they've all been sharpened by SRP honemeisters!

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Please buy microscope to see what are you doing with the edge.

Ok.

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

Cornelius, the DMT's are a major PITA to hone with until they are (use Mike Meyer's Shrek voice for this next part) *really really* broken in. Even then, they are pretty darn aggressive.

Well, that's good to hear, really. But how come I still dont have a bevel at the heel after roughly 200 laps on the 325?

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

Pay extra attention to breaking in the edges of the DMT's. The ninety degree drop off on the edges of the DMT's are very unforgiving of any error in an X stroke. I've broken my 8E and EE in on the edges to the point that there is hardly any diamond/nickel plating left on about the last 1/8 " before the edge.

How do you break in the edges?

CORNELIUS if blade doesn't have an writing in it could be it is pakistany that is really good.then forget about putting a good edge just play with it.it you have done 200 laps on 325 that razor's back should almost gone.is this blade wedge balde?if answer yes change to hallow ground a lot easier to learn.let us know how are you doing ok
don't worry about at heel you don't have bevel blade could be carved reason why .you just try hone you will get there.if you really want to heel use sircular motion only heel ok

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

CORNELIUS if blade doesn't have an writing in it could be it is pakistany that is really good.

I thought the Pakistani razors were not good? - I dont know where it's from, see post number 3 above for an image. I blew the writing up so you can see if you can recognize / identify it.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

is this blade wedge balde?

I dont think so, it looks rather hollow. Not sure, though. Here's a picture:

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

don't worry about at heel you don't have bevel blade could be carved reason why .you just try hone you will get there.if you really want to heel use sircular motion only heel ok

Ok. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Cornelius

Well, that's good to hear, really. But how come I still dont have a bevel at the heel after roughly 200 laps on the 325?

How do you break in the edges?

That should certainly be enough laps on that coarse of a stone to put a bevel on anything. The steel might be of such poor quality that it is simply crumbling away. I had this happen on a dubl duck that had lost it's temper, and a pakistani blade, too. I ended up getting the pakistani to take a bevel on a finer grit hone, but it took forever. Too coarse of a grit just made the edge crumble.

To break in the edges of my DMT's, I took my Chinese 12k hone (which is very narrow), and used the side of it on the edges of the DMT's until they were noticeably worn down.

So how do I break in the DMTs? Is there a standard procedure or do I have to hone razors until they finally become broken in at some point?

Originally Posted by Cornelius

So how do I break in the DMTs? Is there a standard procedure or do I have to hone razors until they finally become broken in at some point?

Put a good dense Coticule slurry on the DMT. Take a cabinet scraper, or any other flat piece of hard steel (like a wide chisel), place it flat on the hone and rub back and forth for 15 minutes. Apply decent pressure. Scrub the DMT with a scotch pad (the one you use for washing dishes) and some dishwashing soap, till it looks clean again.
That should do it. Check your razor under magnification, while honing on the DMT's. A DMT that is not broken in well, causes microchipping.

Hope this helps,
Bart.

Fantastic, thanks!

Damn, 15 mins...

I'll do that with the coarse, the fine and the extra-extra fine equally?