Thread: Getting honing on the right path.

I think it's my fundamental non-understanding of the process from go to whoa. I use my logic, and that can be dangerous. I'll be better off when I am sure that the bevel is right. I am afraid to be honest after getting what is a grippy tpt to the loss of keeness when I put it on the 8K. Maybe I need to give it more of a go on the 8k. To me, after a fair bit of work on the 4k, it goes down hill, (Only the thumb feel). When I check how they feel with the thumb pad, immediately post honing, I feel it isn't keen. Then for no reason, when I shave with it after a strop it shaves well. I'm looking for a scientific reason for this?
Anyway, I'll have a bevel setting stone soon, and a good naniwa progressive regime that really is without doubt a good array of stones. My array will be 1k,4k,6k,8k,10k. While I have your attention, your thoughts on chromium Oxide (100% genuine from a pottery factory on a 3 x 3 balso block) I've seen crayon on a coarse strop back (15% crox). When looked at at say 20 magnification it seems less scratched. Tell me it doesn't matter, it cost me 6 bucks for enough for a thousand strops! So I won't be broken hearted if I'm wasting my time.

Originally Posted by bobski

I think it's my fundamental non-understanding of the process from go to whoa. I use my logic, and that can be dangerous. I'll be better off when I am sure that the bevel is right. I am afraid to be honest after getting what is a grippy tpt to the loss of keeness when I put it on the 8K. Maybe I need to give it more of a go on the 8k. To me, after a fair bit of work on the 4k, it goes down hill, (Only the thumb feel). When I check how they feel with the thumb pad, immediately post honing, I feel it isn't keen. Then for no reason, when I shave with it after a strop it shaves well. I'm looking for a scientific reason for this?
Ahh right. I think the scientific answer is a smoother edge will feel different i.e. less scary unless there is lateral movement. It's hard to know what's happening for sure but often an apparent loss of sharpness at 8k etc is often indicative of a bevel problem but it could even be something like a botched stroke on the 8k which then is a bevel problem too.

Anyway, I'll have a bevel setting stone soon, and a good naniwa progressive regime that really is without doubt a good array of stones. My array will be 1k,4k,6k,8k,10k. While I have your attention, your thoughts on chromium Oxide (100% genuine from a pottery factory on a 3 x 3 balso block) I've seen crayon on a coarse strop back (15% crox). When looked at at say 20 magnification it seems less scratched. Tell me it doesn't matter, it cost me 6 bucks for enough for a thousand strops! So I won't be broken hearted if I'm wasting my time.

I don't finish on pates these days. I used pottery CrO for a long time but often had my doubts about the random scratches I saw so stopped using it. The Kremer water colour pigment is quite uniform tho as are a few other brands.

Thanks Os, I do believe it is a bevel problem, having to do a lot of work to get the tpt pass on a 4k. I am waiting for the postie to deliver the naniwa 1k and re-assess the bevel, but looking at it first under 20x magnification and post say 20 strokes each way on the 1K, this razor a 6/8 Dovo arrived with no real ability to shave no matter how much you strop it. As mentioned, it is my technique that will need to improve, and with more work I'll get it right. Thanks for your input. There are so many opinions out there, many styles and theories. I think I made it hard for myself by my 1st razor being an extra hollow ground, so when I get it completely right I'm in the right place. In this 'hobby' one tends to collect all sorts of things.....whats next.....cheers

Originally Posted by bobski

Thanks Os, I do believe it is a bevel problem, having to do a lot of work to get the tpt pass on a 4k. I am waiting for the postie to deliver the naniwa 1k and re-assess the bevel, but looking at it first under 20x magnification and post say 20 strokes each way on the 1K, this razor a 6/8 Dovo arrived with no real ability to shave no matter how much you strop it. As mentioned, it is my technique that will need to improve, and with more work I'll get it right. Thanks for your input. There are so many opinions out there, many styles and theories. I think I made it hard for myself by my 1st razor being an extra hollow ground, so when I get it completely right I'm in the right place. In this 'hobby' one tends to collect all sorts of things.....whats next.....cheers

2 difficult things to learn are setting a good bevel & shaving angle. An extra hollow makes the first one easier & the second one tricky if you have a coarse beard but its all doable. Hang in there & know your mistakes will teach you as well as your successes.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

G'day Bobski.
First up, gotta defend the TNT & pyramid honing. Even tho I don't use them either atm I've used them enough to know how & why they work.

Just to clarify you stropped 2x & shave tested 2x but the second shave was good & the first useless. ?

I don't own the Nanis to say for sure but maybe 10 -12 strokes on the 8k is not enough ? Still doesn't answer why it comes good 2 days later.

Perhaps it just needed extra initial stropping off the hones?

One of my double siders was mis-marked. I ended up shaving off a 3k stone. Not the most comfortable shave I ever had, but it was a shave. Os, in a passing comment to me one day, said that those hones was mis-marked at the factory and had I noticed? Well now that you mentioned it, yes... I was wondering why my edges seemed to diminish after my "8k" honing .


Mick

A can of worms indeed. Now I've ordered a 1k-6k combo stone. I only wanted a 1k, but got a good deal on the combo so now, I've confused myself even more bearing in mind that Lynn's video (above) uses a 1,5,8,12 progression. So my progression when this new stone arrives will be 1k, 4k,6k,8k,10k. So what I do with this progression following the 1k-4k is a puzzle. Maybe it's better not to even use the 6k side, or just give it say a half dozen strokes on the way to the 8 then the 10. The more I know about honing the less I actually can use with confidence. Don't be afraid of telling me home truths, I sometimes need them. (My bride thinks I'm insane over the burgeoning collection of razors, hones etc). I make sure I hide the razors for fear of what she might do with one of them when I'm asleep.....lol

Originally Posted by bobski

A can of worms indeed. Now I've ordered a 1k-6k combo stone. I only wanted a 1k, but got a good deal on the combo so now, I've confused myself even more bearing in mind that Lynn's video (above) uses a 1,5,8,12 progression. So my progression when this new stone arrives will be 1k, 4k,6k,8k,10k. So what I do with this progression following the 1k-4k is a puzzle. Maybe it's better not to even use the 6k side, or just give it say a half dozen strokes on the way to the 8 then the 10. The more I know about honing the less I actually can use with confidence. Don't be afraid of telling me home truths, I sometimes need them. (My bride thinks I'm insane over the burgeoning collection of razors, hones etc). I make sure I hide the razors for fear of what she might do with one of them when I'm asleep.....lol

All will be revealed thru experimentation. btw Shapton GS come as a 1,2,3,4,6,8 if you like small jumps. I like using just 3 stones if I can get away with it.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

All will be revealed thru experimentation. btw Shapton GS come as a 1,2,3,4,6,8 if you like small jumps. I like using just 3 stones if I can get away with it.

I like just one if I can get away with it! The only finisher stone I own. Sadly I usually go to the 8k as well...Of course I'm just a hone my own bloke and not a hone every man and his dogs razor bloke like you .


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

I like just one if I can get away with it! The only finisher stone I own. Sadly I usually go to the 8k as well...Of course I'm just a hone my own bloke and not a hone every man and his dogs razor bloke like you .


Mick

Book of Armaments, Chapter 2, verses 9–21 ~
"Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three."