Thread: finishing straight razors

Cool, slurry can add another variable to try to work out.

Try watching, worth viewing the full vid but especially look from 11.40, there is a great little tip for the finish with an 8k. I've studied this video over and over again, I found it really helped when starting out.

https://m.youtube.com/?gl=GB&hl=en-G...?v=y53SL9QMq6I

Something else for me to try tomorow. I have just ordered a 12k whetstone to try also

Good luck, gives us a shout if still no luck

Will do mate. Thanks for the advice. If no luck tomorow might just pay someone to do it and try again next time hehe

Which 12k? I assume a naniwa. I have a naniwa 12k and get a mirror finish without exception. I finish that off with crox on webbing and it does dull the polish a little but improves the shave if not overdone. I would worry more about the shave than anything else. It may be a stupid question but have you lapped your 8k? If not I would assume that's why you're not getting the polish you expect. After initial lapping just a few swipes with a dmt to clean it before every session will help keep foreign matter from ruining an edge.

Maybe it's just me, but my mirror 'polish' on the bevel doesn't really shine through until after the 12k. 8k starts to look polished, but the 12k really brings it out. Even with a polished look, a loupe would still be helpful to show you any deeper grit scratches left in the bevel.

How does it shave? That's the real question not how it looks, and if it's not shaving at the 8k then a 12k won't fix it, Tc

So, so many options. Best results come from your individual preferences. I like a Naniwa 12k on my heavier grind blades. Zulu Grey on the more hollow.

What brand of stones are you using and did you lap them, with what?

Not all knife stones work with razors.

Without magnification you don’t know if you even have a flat bevel and most probably the bevel is not set. 600 is way too much stone for a refresh, unless you are removing deep pits. You have to remove all the deep 600 grit stria first… and set the bevel. Do not move up from the 1k until you are absolutely sure the bevel is set… completely…

Take a look at the first 3 threads in the honing forum, while waiting for your magnification to comes. And realize that honing razors is very different than knives.

Here is a good thread taking an edge from start to finish with great bevel photos. That is what yours should look like and why you need magnification, without it you are driving blind.

12k is naniwa.
8000 and 4000 are a generic brand, masterclass I believe
and the 600 1000 are nortons