Thread: Ding! Ding!

I'm new to straights (1 month now), and hit a newbie problem, where I dinged the blade, in my early shaving tries, while rinsing it during shaving. I used to have my lather in a cup, in the sink, full of water. Well, I now use a scuttle and keep the straights away from the sink.

In any case, this posed an opportunity for me. One where I'd love to hear feedback from experienced honers, on my technique, procedure/process.

The blade is a new Dovo Best Quality 5/8, 1/2 hollow from SRD. Rather than use the free hone coupon, I decided I'd try to rescue it myself (and if I fail, send it in). I have a second straight that I can use in the interim.

It has a easily visible ding about 1/4 of he way from the toe, and one right on the corner of the toe(rolled a bit).

I had posted on another thread about this an the suggestion was to do a few passes on the Ninawi 12k (after flattening with the DMT), and then strop with cr-ox and then leather.

I put on one piece of tape (not sure if it was used on it originally, but figured I'd want to save the spine, and I'm a beginner at this). Made a puddle of water on the stone, and did 10 passes, with very light pressure (finger/thumb of left hand on toe, right hand on heel end. I tried to ensure a wave of water was flowing in front of the blade, and it did most of the time. I was very care that I kept the blade straight and flat to the stone all the time.

Well I didn't seem to notice much of a difference, so I continued in sets of 10, wiping the blade after, checking with my magnifying glass, and resetting the stone.

Around 40-50, I started noticing that the ding was getting smaller. So I kept going. Around 150 strokes, I could see that the ding was getting much smaller. By 280 strokes it was a very small shiny spot under the lighted magnifier and barely visible by the naked eye (only under a light).

I continued for a total of 340 strokes, until I could not see the ding any more under the 40x magnifier. I wiped off the blade, and washed the stone under running water rubbing it. Total time was close 2 hours, so I went really slow about 2 seconds in each direction (and a lot of time looking at the edge).

My next step will be stropping with cr-ox, which using it is new to me too, but I need to wait until tomorrow, as I just pasted the strop today (webbed strop).

I realized by 30-40 passes, that I probably should have gone down to the Norton 8k, but it was my first time honing, and I was happy to practice the stroke (ok to take long).

I can't wait to see if this works out OK. I'll likely strop tomorrow and try Monday.

Let me know your thoughts on my process, technique, etc. I'd love to hear where I can improve!

Thanks!
PCM

I don't have your patience. I would have dropped to a lower grit. Sounds like you did well taking your time, only the shave test can judge.

At least it was only a ding. One of my first razors was a damascus kamisori. I had to chamfer the whole point off from damage. Now I have 5mm less cutting edge on it.

Expensive lesson, but I have been very careful since.

I'd admire your patience. That is a great way to learn to hone - slowly and removing very little metal so that little damage is done when you goof up your stroke. And you also learned when it is time to go to a lower grit.

Best of luck.

Originally Posted by JTmke

I don't have your patience. I would have dropped to a lower grit. Sounds like you did well taking your time, only the shave test can judge.

Yeah, I was afraid of taking too much off or messing with the bevel, by using a lower grit. As I gain experience, I'll try to be more aggressive. Gotta baby step it for now.

I'm excited to see how it makes out on a shave test. Probably tomorrow, I'll try to test it, and will report.

So, if I were drop down in grit, what would be the recommend grit (I have Norton 1/4/8k set)?

Would I drop down to 8k, see if aggressive enough, and if not, go to 4k?

How many passes before assessing the honing at a level? 10?

If dropping down to 4k, what is a good way to proceed back up through the 8k, 12k, cr-ox?

As far as evaluating my work, I was using the 40x magnifying glass to look closely at the ding or see how it was disappearing (or not . Are ther other things I should be looking for? Consistency in the width of the bevel (one side of the edge) along the length of the blade?

Just wondering what tips and nuggets of info people have when refreshing or repairing minor problems with the edge.

BTW, I just did 10 strokes on the webbing, which I had applied .5 cr-ox to yesterday. Then, I did 50 on the other side of the webbing, and 100 on the leather bench strop I just got.

It seems to be cutting hair on my arm. Tomorrow, I'll do a shave test on it and see if it pulls.

It depends on the size of the ding but I would have gone straight to a few light strokes on the 4k and checked progress. Ding still there, more 4k. Once the ding was out move up through the grits as prescribed by the feel of the razor on the hone. When it pulls through the grit effortlessly (smoothly?) move up to the next grit. I am not sure how to describe the "knowing when to change grits". When I started honing it was by sound. Now it's by feel.

I did a test shave this morning with the Dovo. To my surprise it came out well! I did my right cheek and then left cheek (as before there was more pulling and irritation on that side. Since it felt comfortable, I continued and did an entire shave. It had a little trouble going ATG, which I do in one area on my neck and around the chin, but I've seen that with the Spike as well.

Maybe I'll do 5-10 strops on the Cr-Ox, and then 50/100 on webbing/leather and see if it improves more. Probably won't be until Friday though, as I want to check out the 6/8 (?) wedge I bought from Glen on Wednesday .

I'm so happy to be able to bring back the blade from a minor issue!

Sorry to hear that you dinged your blade. You could have formed a wire edge with that many strokes on a finishing stone.