Setting the #@!!$&#! Bevel
I have touched up shaving razors before with some success, but now find myself having to set a bevel on a Dovo stainless.
I have read the following things about this exercise:
- It can be time consuming (so far so good, because it is consuming a whole boatload of my time);
- It is the toughest part of honing (still on track here; I am certainly finding it tough);
- It may take many passes over the hone (three for three: I am certainly in the range of what I would call "many");
- It is the basis for all subsequent honing steps (which, despite making perfect sense, is where the whole thing gets all bollocksed-up, because it ain't working out);
- Generally, the sign that one has reached the end of this phase is that the blade grabs the thumbnail at every point along the shaving edge (which also sucks, because I have been unable to reach that point).
Apparently, 3 of 5 is not good enough.
So far I have alternated between failing to set the bevel correctly on a Norton 1000 and failing to set the bevel correctly on a Naniwa 1000. Both stones have been lapped using 320 grit sandpaper on a countertop, and their edges are bevelled nicely (see, I pay attention to you guys and your written wisdom).
I have spent hours trying to set the edge on this :cen thing. Once or twice I've got it to where it feels all vicious and edgy, and pops arm hairs off nicely, but then I go to the 4K and the 8K (using what is called the "agreesive pyramid" in the wiki) and my nasty edge disappears. Both times I have got it to feel "edgy" on the 1K were after getting frustrated and putting some pressure on the blade for a few strokes.
I have put sharpie on, and the marks all disappears right to the edge. Under examination using a Pentax loupe, the bevel appears to be a single plane, going straight to the edge of the blade. I know there is a bit of a problem near the toe on one side; the edge there doesn't make contact with the hone on one side unless I "help" it, but that doesn't seem capable of explaining my issue; the rest of the thing never really gets sharp.
I am thinking that the following may be the problem:
- not having gone for long enough (ie. not having taken off enough metal);
- not knowing how much pressure to use;
- a warp in the blade keeping the thing from getting proper pressure all the way across (see the mention of the toe issue, above);
- I am doing a rubbish job; or
- All of the above.
I purchased this blade new from Dovo, so I am aware that the bevel may have been set at the factory at an angle much different to the one I am trying to make now (not using tape), but how many laps should this take? I have spent literally hours, and probably hundreds of strokes, on it so far.
And yes, I have ordered Lynn's DVD. So far I can't seem get that X-stroke to work with one hand; I need to steady the toe with the other.
Any suggestions will be most appreciated. I like this razor so don't want to ruin it learning. I have a Cerena with a chipped edge that maybe I should learn on.