Thread: Wapienica Honing

Hi all,

Probably the wrong forum but I am having the devils own job getting an edge on my Wapienica. I'm using light pressure and started with the conservative pyramid which didn't touch the edge and went to the agressive using the TPT all along the way to gauge progress.

I can see a bevel at the heel of the razor (after 30 mins of honing) which is confusing as I ensured that the full edge was in contact with the hone, you could even see the 'wave' of water all along the edge as it moved down the hone?

Is the steel harder than say a Timor or am I doing something wrong?

Simon

Are you using the Polish stones or a Norton? I think some of the blades have a very slight warp to them, maybe using a thinner hone with an x pattern would help? Maybe one of the experienced honers can tell us their experience of them?
Nick

They hone quickly, so I'd say that the steel is reasonably soft. Several people have reported that a single pyramid is enough to get theirs shave ready. I have also seen reports here of what sounds like a very slight warp to the blade.

However, they also are of such a grind that you don't expect to see much of a bevel. Certainly the two that are regularly used in this house (mine and my son's) have the smallest bevel I have seen on a razor - reasonably even, but not of constant width, either. They both shave just fine.

If you are judging the blade on the width of the bevel - don't. Just do your usual sharpness tests, and give it a test shave. If that fails, check your stone for flatness, then try again.

If you're using the hone that came from the same source, I'm not sure that it'll get your blade where it needs to be. If you're using a hone like Norton, make sure it's properly flattened.

Mine took quite a bit of honing also. A single aggressive pyramid was not close to adequate. Mine were also ever so slightly warped, but thats no big deal. Be sure and use an X pattern, use the 4K until you can feel a definite edge developing. Then move to an aggressive pyramid.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Originally Posted by Bradford Si

Hi all,

I'm using light pressure and started with the conservative pyramid which didn't touch the edge and went to the agressive using the TPT all along the way to gauge progress.
Simon

This is probably the wrong place to ask this but what is a "conservative or agressive pyramid" is it a type of honing stone I don't mean to sound thick but have only bought my first straight about 2 months ago and I'm still trying to catch up on all the different terms
Malcolm

The pyramid system is the one shown by Lynn on his DVD, and is used fairly extensively on this forum.
The basics involve using a Norton 4k/8k stone, and doing different numbers of passes on each side alternately.
The difference between the conservative and aggressive pyramid is that the aggressive uses more passes and therefore is better to sharpen a duller razor. The conservative pyramid is used for less dull razors.
On the files section there is a guide written by Randy showing the progression of passes on the hone.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,18/Itemid,3/
Hope that helps.

Nicky thanks for that , it's like everything else you start theres that much you have to find out about just thankfull I found this site as I'm picking up info everyday

Originally Posted by nickyspaghetti

The pyramid system is the one shown by Lynn on his DVD, and is used fairly extensively on this forum.
The basics involve using a Norton 4k/8k stone, and doing different numbers of passes on each side alternately.
The difference between the conservative and aggressive pyramid is that the aggressive uses more passes and therefore is better to sharpen a duller razor. The conservative pyramid is used for less dull razors.
On the files section there is a guide written by Randy showing the progression of passes on the hone.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,18/Itemid,3/
Hope that helps.

I did as couple more aggressive pyramids last night and it's getting nearer but I think I should buy another as by the time I get it there I'll be shaving with the spine!

Thanks for the advice so far guys, keep it coming!

X pattern is the way to go!

Si.

Originally Posted by Bradford Si

I did as couple more aggressive pyramids last night and it's getting nearer but I think I should buy another as by the time I get it there I'll be shaving with the spine!

Thanks for the advice so far guys, keep it coming!

X pattern is the way to go!

Si.

Unfortunately the Wapienica razors are not as cheap as they used to be. They are still a great deal...but my plans to buy a 7 day set just got quite a bit more expensive.