Newbie honing on a DMT poor results
Hi guys,
I got a DMT Extra-Extra Fine hone to touch up my shaveable but not-ideal Theirs-Issard SR. This razor was new in September and I had been shaving with its factory edge and stropping. Well I put some soapy water on the hone and did about 6 light strokes back and forth with no X-pattern (because the entire blade fit across the hone I didn't think it was necessary). I then stropped the blade for 30+ strokes on canvas with theirs-issard stop paste, then followed with leather for 50 strokes. I lathered and shaved with this, and it seemed different--perhaps duller. So I went back to the hone and did another 10 to 15 stokes. I tried to cut some arm hair at this point and it failed. I assumed my technique must be at fault and that if I did some more strokes on the hone it would sharpen up.
I was wrong. 20 stokes later I noticed that I was wearing a nice uneven pattern on both sides of the blade. I drew permanent market on the edge and did another couple strokes and confirmed my suspicion--the blade was honing unevenly. It seems to have a smile in it, because it wears close to the tang on one side, but close to the end of the blade on the other.
I did some reading and found that perhaps a rolling X-pattern could help with this. I started trying that and it seems to have evened out the wear pattern a bit but not completely. It is still quite dull and will not shave hair off my arm.
My questions to your community are the following:
1.) Should I stop right now and just send this blade to a pro for honing?
2.) Have I damaged the blade?
3.) Should I continue with the rolling X-pattern and see if things improve?
4.) If I continue, should I tape the heel with electrical tape? (Plus, what does this do exactly?)
Thanks for your input!