Thread: Honing stropping help?

Hi I just got a new dovo, a norton 4k, 8k stone and a russian tan leather strop with a canvas side. I originally set the bevel on it with around a 1200 grit stone. Then I used the 4k side which was taking hair off my arm fairly easily. Then to the 8k for quite some time. I even tried to do the double bevel using tape on the spine to get a better edge. Then I tried the hht test which I know everybody says isn't a good test but it sure seems to be a good test when the blade can cut a hair with no pressure. If it can do that then I think it can get through my facial hair. I tried it and it kinda caught on the hair but wouldn't really cut it unless there was more pressure. But I stropped and tried shaving with it. I kinda cut my hair decently smooth and first, but doesn't seem to get extremely close. I started pulling on my hairs especially sensitive areas like my chin and neck. So I'm for sure not gonna try to go against the grain yet. Do I need to go over the 8k side of the stone more. And I'm pretty sure I've been honing right I've been studying this for about 6 months and had an antique razor I was using before this. Also I don't know about paste for a strop and if that will help. Also what kind of lotion should you use for the leather of the strop to help condition it better. Any help would be greatly appreciated I'm getting pretty frustrated. I would also like to do it myself and not get it sent to a honemeister. Thanks, Chris.

Welcome Chris,

Perhaps you should consider Lynn's pyramids method. Other than that, just as you might expect - do some more passes on the 8k side, until it doesn't get sharper. If it doesn't get sharper at all, do some passes on the 4k side and see if that helps.
You need to keep doing this until you are happy with the way the razor shaves. Some people find abrasive pastes helpful too - only one way to find out if that will work for you.

It usually has less to do with number of passes than with the quality of each pass. Lynn says 'less is more' and I don't know of any other person who has honed as many razors as he has, which I guess makes sense if you need fewer passes to get a razor done than the next guy.

As far as conditioning the strop, it depends on where it is presently. Netsfoot oil, mink oil or just rubbing it whenever you pass by it seem to be the usual approaches around here.

Good luck, keep us updated.

Out of curiosity, how long have you been straight shaving? I know for myself my shaves for the first little while were not very close.

On the other hand, if it is something that you already feel that you are reasonably proficient at, and are use to getting close shaves with a straight, then I agree, just keep at it and try a variety of honing methods until you find one that works for you.

Originally Posted by fiveten73

Then to the 8k for quite some time.

This is the part of the post that really stood out to me. How many laps on the 8K did you do and how did you do them?

The Norton builds slurry pretty quickly so unless you rinse it off frequently (I do it every 10 laps) you might be actually be dulling the blade the more you hone.

Another secret is on your finishing laps use as little pressure as possible and very little water...think light and damp.

Just making sure, but you finish it on a finishing stone or a paste right?

Originally Posted by fiveten73

Also what kind of lotion should you use for the leather of the strop to help condition it better.

The list of usual suspects are neatsfoot or mink oil or any of the myriad of leather conditioners.

I'm partial to Lexol products (both the cleaner and conditioner) as they are cheap, can usually be purchased at an auto parts store, are specifially formulated for leather, are one of the best products out there, and as a bonus they are less prone to "over dressing" the strop as some of the others. With the natural oils (neatsfoot and mink) it's real easy to overdo it if you aren't careful. Most strops already come "conditioned" and unless you live a very dry climate probably won't need anything for several months.

I've never had much luck with the rubbing your hand on it advice. My hands aren't that oily and I'm always afraid of contaminating my strops if my hands aren't squeaky clean.