Thread: it's time to get serious about learning honing. One last question for the pros:

Been SR shaving for about one month now. Got my stropping down and building better shave technique every day. I'm actually surprised at myself at how quickly in all clicked for me because I'm usually pretty stupid and fail at most things.

SO...

time to get into honing. I've got a Belgium Culticule stone, and a Norton 4k/8k stone. I just kinda grabbed these in a passioned-filled moment of RAD without doing maybe as much research into stones as I should have. (and I'm kinda broke now because of my flash of RAD) The point being these are the stones I have and it's what I've got to work with. So please no "You should get this stone or that stone." For better or worse, these are the stones I've got.

This is my question: I'm fixing to get two cheap GD (already quality controlled) razors from a trusted member and honemaste to learn with. Should I just get one made shave ready and the other not, so I can attempt to get the one not shave ready sharp by comparing it to the sharp one, or should I just get them both shave ready?

sorry that was so long winded...

as always, thank you guys for your patience with me.

one shave ready and one not of the same razor is a great idea, this way you can compare your progress.

You can get both shave ready if you like. Then dull one on the side of a glass and proceed to practice getting the edge back.

I would also recommend picking up one of the pocket microscopes that can be found on amazon, or from radio shack to inspect the edge of your razor. When learning, it makes things a little easier being able to see what the hones are doing to the edge, but don't neglect the other tests! I wouldn't recommend the HHT when you first start, but the TNT and TPT are excellent indicators.

Don't forget to lap your Norton 4/8 hone before using it (details in the Wiki.)

Check out the Wiki, there's a wealth of knowledge there to get you ready for honing, as well as checking out Welcome to Coticule.be - home of the famous Belgian Coticule Whetstone to learn more about using your coticule. Bart posted a lot of good stuff here and in the Wiki, but he has a good bit more on his site

Beings as you have been shaving for a month already, I will take it that you already have a shave ready razor. I would say just get the two Chinese razors un-honed and practice learning to hone.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by avatar1999

Don't forget to lap your Norton 4/8 hone before using it (details in the Wiki.)

that looks pretty darn confusing. please note in my original post I said that I was " pretty stupid and fail at most things".

taken that into account, is it possible for me to just start honing without lapping? My norton 4/8 is brand new as is my Belgian Couticule. Can I learn "lapping" a little later. Please? I'm overwhelmed right about now.

Originally Posted by Toplin

that looks pretty darn confusing. please note in my original post I said that I was " pretty stupid and fail at most things".

taken that into account, is it possible for me to just start honing without lapping? My norton 4/8 is brand new as is my Belgian Couticule. Can I learn "lapping" a little later. Please? I'm overwhelmed right about now.

Actually the 4K side of the newer Nortons are pretty granular and should be lapped down about 1/8 inch until the grainey feeling is gone. They perform a ton better that way. I would say no problem on using the 8K or the Coticule as they are. The 8K will pick up swarf or metal on the surface. It can be rinsed and rubbed off mostly, but will accumulate and will need to be lapped after a while.

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

I would say no problem on using the 8K or the Coticule as they are.

Lynn

HOT DAMN!!!

Oh yeah, I may be new around here, but I have learned that "If Lynn says it, it's true!"

My personal suggestion is that if you are just learning, you should at least get razors with the bevels set. That is the hardest part to do correctly and thoroughly, especially on problem razors like the GD's. From there, you can take it to the 4k, 8k, and then coti to see what kind of an edge you can produce. Compare your results to your professionally honed razor to see how you're doing.

Toplin you can go to the SRP Wiki and find "hone lapping 101" by Josh Earl. It is also in the forum archives if you do an advanced search. All you need is sand paper and a flat surface such as a counter top.

If you check out this video of Lynn honing at the razor con get together here and copy his circles and x strokes you might do well with either of your hones. Or you could go to the SRP Wiki honing section and check out the pyramid tutorial . Use your 4/8 with that method and then finish on the coticule with water only.

I seem to remember watching a youtube video some time back on lapping a norton stone.... Try searching youtube for "norton lapping" or something like that. However, you are going to need a lapping stone, if the norton 4/8k and coticule are your only stones.