First Refreshed Edge, Shapton 16k

[carlmaloschneider]

Just 'refreshed' by first edge. The Burrell Top Flight (my first straight) that I got on the 6th of June hadn't been honed at all since I got it, and I'd used it every day until the 11th of August (when I got my second razor) and maybe every other day since then. I got myself a Shapton 16k and a Norton 4/8. Today I bought a cheap ($25) 'Ice Bear' flattening Stone and a Nagura cleaning stone. I drew the grid on the Shapton and soaked the flattening stone for about 15 mins (not sure if I needed to but I did anyway) and did 30 figure eights. The grid was almost gone but not quite; so I did about 70 more. I then re-did the grid and did it again. I noticed the second time I still had to remove some low points on one corner. I then cleaned the stone with the Nagura Cleaning Stone and made a little bit of a slurry. I passed the blade over the stone, first trying a figure eight; but when I couldn't get that, going diagonal, i.e. blade held 'toe down' flat on the stone, moved up parallel to the edge and then down toe up parallel to the edge; oh, I bevelled the edges a bit too before I honed. Did about 20 laps. I had to use both hands to push the blade, I couldn't keep it quite flat using one hand. I only pushed across the stone; not down. I kept grinding a bit of the shoulder by mistake. Then I slowed all the way down and REALLY concentrated. People say that the only real test is to shave, so I did, even though I'd only shaved 6 hours before. It seems OK, maybe not as sharp as when I go it, but maybe better than before. Even did ATG on the neck. It struggled a little on the neck area ATG (which I find is always difficult; that technique needs a certain edge with a certain steady hand and a certain lather) the edge could be sharper, but for a first attempt, I'm happy. I really thought I'd end up with a destroyed blade. I did practise a bit on the one I'm 'restoring' (AKA destroying) first...