Thread: Nagura stones or sets

Originally Posted by mainaman

How do you check the progress of your edges as you hone? Is it just based on the shave test?

I test my progress with arm and leg hair. When I all done shave test is my test

Originally Posted by Gonzo4str8rzrs

I test my progress with arm and leg hair. When I all done shave test is my test

How do you know then if the edge is progressing as it should? Arm and leg hair can be cut at the 1k level but that does not mean the razor will cut beard .
You need a method for monitoring the progress as you go up the grits. Visual ques are pretty good indicator of issues etc.

Originally Posted by mainaman

How do you know then if the edge is progressing as it should? Arm and leg hair can be cut at the 1k level but that does not mean the razor will cut beard .
You need a method for monitoring the progress as you go up the grits. Visual ques are pretty good indicator of issues etc.

Such as? What tests should I perform to monitor the progress of my edges. I'm very intrigued. What ques?

Originally Posted by Gonzo4str8rzrs

Such as? What tests should I perform to monitor the progress of my edges. I'm very intrigued. What ques?

A lot of folks like to use a scope to monitor the progress. If you are using TPT or other tests you have to learn to correlate the feel with performance of the edge , that is how you will develop consistency in your honing.

Originally Posted by mainaman

A lot of folks like to use a scope to monitor the progress. If you are using TPT or other tests you have to learn to correlate the feel with performance of the edge , that is how you will develop consistency in your honing.

Thanks for some suggestions.

I use a simple hand magnifier and check to see that the striae from each stone is removed by the next stone uniformly along the bevels, especially at the toe and heel. This is not as easy as it sounds when you're just learning how to bias the pressure during your stroke, and is a big part of what you're trying to learn.

And it sometimes happens to everyone learning a new razor. Many times I've looked through that glass and seen coarser scratches somewhere. You can have a little smile for example, that's kind of hard to see (at least for me), but the scratches don't lie.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by Steve56

I use a simple hand magnifier and check to see that the striae from each stone is removed by the next stone uniformly along the bevels, especially at the toe and heel. This is not as easy as it sounds when you're just learning how to bias the pressure during your stroke, and is a big part of what you're trying to learn.

And it sometimes happens to everyone learning a new razor. Many times I've looked through that glass and seen coarser scratches somewhere. You can have a little smile for example, that's kind of hard to see (at least for me), but the scratches don't lie.

Cheers, Steve

Thanks Steve, I'm guessing I need to start looking at edge progressions to take my honing to a new level.

Originally Posted by mainaman

How do you check the progress of your edges as you hone? Is it just based on the shave test?

My stones have a little hair-popping competition after each one. No strop, just to be clear, but I will wipe the blade a bit just see the cuts more clearly.

I have to agree with you on the visual tests, they are a must for me as well. I use all my senses, although I don't taste my steel yet, I'm not that skilled. So yeah, I just use the other 5... [emoji12]

I also use HHT after each stone and a half-stropping (10 canvas 20 leather) on a new or new-to-me razor.

Now to be sure, I am not using the HHT to determine shave readiness in the progression, but to test that the edge is coming up the same all along the bevel, heel, center, and toe. The advantage of HHT is that a hair is small and you can test every millimeter of the edge right out to the end of the toe or heel.

Cheers, Steve