Thread: Any idea what I could be doing wrong?

I guess if the bevel was set properly and its come round to set it again and there is little to correct then 5 strokes might be sufficient. Still, it is a little vague.

I've done precisely what was mentioned in the last part of Utopia's post, fortunately it was a gold dollar razor. I hadn't set the bevel correctly and continued on to hone with a high grade synthetic stone until the edge couldn't take it any more. With that said, I'd been honing for hours on the high grade synthetic with increasing pressure on the blade.

You certainly live and learn - the importance of getting the bevel right was a lasting lesson from that experience.

I finally managed to set a bevel using 1200 grit sandpaper, thanks to jelajemi for recommending that, but now I can't get it to shave arm hair without touching the skin.

I've tried starting from 25 and following this pattern Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Library
And then following the aggressive one from here Honing - Alternative approaches - Straight Razor Place Library
And then following the conservative method twice.

It really takes time and patience to get this honing lark to work. If it were me I think I'd invest in a 1000grit to use as a bevel setter. also if the blade is really blunt it will need a lot of work to set that bevel just keep going until whatever indicator you're using tells you it's there. When I started out I was convinced that I was doing something wrong as it was taking forever to set a bevel, so I sent it away to be honed by someone else as I didn't want to ruin the razor. Now, having bought some cheap razors off ebay it's given me the opportunity to practice without worrying about the razor too much and I've come to realize that each one will be different. As for not cutting arm hair, did you try it after you'd set the bevel? If it worked then it may be as you've progressed up the the hones you may be using to much pressure again this was my problem.
What hones are you using?

Originally Posted by Anthony1954

As for not cutting arm hair, did you try it after you'd set the bevel? If it worked then it may be as you've progressed up the the hones you may be using to much pressure again this was my problem.
What hones are you using?

When I got it, I could run my finger down the edge and not get cut
After doing a few circle strokes on sandpaper, it could cut through arm hair when touching the skin
After doing the pyramid strokes, as stated previously, it could still cut through arm hair, but only when touching the skin.

I'm using a norton 4k/8k.

Originally Posted by Amenrab

When I got it, I could run my finger down the edge and not get cut
After doing a few circle strokes on sandpaper, it could cut through arm hair when touching the skin
After doing the pyramid strokes, as stated previously, it could still cut through arm hair, but only when touching the skin.

I'm using a norton 4k/8k.

do you have other razors that can cut you arm hair above the skin? could be that the hair is just not well suited to that test. I seem to have the same problem but i just do a test shave and it seems to have a pretty good shaving edge.

Originally Posted by UAcowboy

do you have other razors that can cut you arm hair above the skin? could be that the hair is just not well suited to that test. I seem to have the same problem but i just do a test shave and it seems to have a pretty good shaving edge.

I can cut hair like that with my razors which were professionally honed, but I've never been able to do an HHT test correctly with them.

If it can still cut arm hair at skin level after the 8k - give it a shave test, that's what's important. None of my razors can cut arm hair above the skin - I put that down to my hair because they certainly do a great job on my face.