Thread: i seriously got to start honing

Hello people of SRP, a question if i may

if i was to send my razors for a professional honing and in the meantime order a 4k/8k norton stone will i be ok for later on when the SR becomes dull and simply hone with the 8k side?

i have several SRs that need to be honed from starting point, if i was to do the task my self will 1k, 4k and 8k be enough?

i checked the FAQs but i need to be sure i understood what i read.

thank you guys.

I just honed my first razor that was professionally honed by Lynn himself about 8 months ago when it was purchased, it was a Dovo Bismarck 6/8 and I just used the pyramid method to hone on the Norton 4K/8K combo stone. It's in the write-up that he did, I think it's something like "Lynn Abrams on Honing" excellent resource.

It was actually very easy, followed Lynn's YouTube videos on posture and grip, as well as stroke. Used his videos to refresh my razor with a Naniwa 12k and CrOx on my webbed strop with much success.

Then of course this week I figured it was time for a re-honing as the refreshing was no longer working. My razor had a perfectly good bevel on it so it just needed some 4K sharpening and 8K polishing. The pyramid method has made me personally, a true believer in that method.

so if my SRs were honed to perfection buy someone else a 4k/8k stone should be enough?

It seems to be enough, at least for me it was.

Every new razor Straight Razor Designs sells is honed by Lynn Abrams himself so I was very sure the bevel was set properly, and that the razor had just dulled a bit. A look under a 20x jeweler's Loupe confirmed, it was just dull, not altered or damaged in any way.

After the pyramid method on the 4K/8K it was perfectly shave ready and comfortable, the pyramid method takes about 20 minutes.

excellent, thank you kind sir.

I would say give it a try, if it isn't shave ready after a pyramid on the 4/8k then the bevel may need to be re-set. This is a little tougher but I was able to reset the bevel on one of my other razors by watching Lynn's YouTube videos on his circle method.

It took a few tries but it is do able, and it also only requires the 4k/8K...you can actually set a bevel on a Norton 4K, it is quite abrasive

Your very welcome, good luck, let me know. How it turns out.

It is a bit stressful at first, honestly I've only honed my razor to shave ready a few times and it's an amazing feeling of accomplishment.

There is a member that goes by Badgister I believe in Montreal that you might want to contact to mentor you.
Just a suggestion
Mike

Me personally would just try the 8k side first.
If it was professionally honed and unless you did some damage to the edge the 8k "should" be PLENTY!

Now if you did some kind of damage... rolled the edge... dinged it... chipped it then I would say go for the 4/8 pyramid.
Otherwise you are wasting metal.

Just MY opinion... YMMV

i just read the whole pyramid entry in the FAQ and understood that once my SRs start to feel dull i do 25 on 4k and the switch sides and do 25 on 8k and then work my way down.

right?