Thread: Fried Hand on Coarse Tablet

So I'd been working on a new/old straight for a few weeks and found the going slow. So in a fit of vengeance decided to end it once and for all and destroy the old bevel and create a totally new one.

Using the imperfect form of a secondary finger on the tip to increase the hone/edge wear on it, I'd finally make a real straight edge of this straight edge. Not looking to destroy the obviously designed muted square tip on it, I went to work.

I was left with an buzzed inner thumb and meat/webbing and first finger. It was so hard the vibrations felt throughout my hand created a desensitized/numbed tingly/sleeping-limb kind of sensation for two days after honing. I just created the bevel, adjusting/creating a new blade geometry but it took a toll on my sensory neurons. Not fun. I had attacked it with a new fury after a few weeks of wearing on it. I swear this is the hardest straight razor steel I've ever encountered. Once I've finally honed it I'm going to shave with it for as long as it takes to actually see what it is, as far as straight edge razors go. It's that hard.

It's because it's a full hollow, that's why it's vibrations went through so cleanly. It wasn't absorbing much of any of the vibrations off the coarse DMT diamond tablet. They went right into my hand. I know because I had to hold onto the shank well that it went into my holding hand, but I didn't anticipate the vibrations rocking through my hand like this. No musculature wear, just the vibratory effects on my sensory neurons. No pain, just tingle and strangeness from the "sleeping limb" effect. Ouch. I've got to find some kind of glove to negate this neuronal effect if I should ever get into professional honing...

Sounds to me like it was a pretty coarse stone and that you were using a load of pressure and grip! Even when I have to drop down to the 325 grit DMT for major edge repair, I dont feel the effect you are talking about.

If you watch the '09 Razorcon videos of Lynn setting a new bevel, you'll see he only uses one hand and not too much pressure. You dont need to use a ton of pressure on straight razors as they are so delicate.

I'm no honemeister, but when I'm honing I only use one hand on the razor and I can put all the pressure I need on the razor with that one hand. The most I might do is rest the weight of my finger on top of the blade to increase the pressure a bit. I've been able to take decent sized chips out of edges with this approach.

I'd really recommend easing up on the pressure you apply, as it sounds from what you're saying like you're using far too much. Or you are using an unbelievably coarse stone, way coarser than you need. As I say, the coarsest I've ever had to go is 325 grit and that was for major edge repair and chip removal.

That said, if you find you are getting symptoms like this from honing it may be a good idea to see your Doctor about them as it doesnt sound like something you should be getting..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Stubear

Sounds to me like it was a pretty coarse stone and that you were using a load of pressure and grip! Even when I have to drop down to the 325 grit DMT for major edge repair, I dont feel the effect you are talking about.

You dont need to use a ton of pressure on straight razors as they are so delicate.

when I'm honing I only use one hand on the razor and I can put all the pressure I need on the razor with that one hand.

That said, if you find you are getting symptoms like this from honing it may be a good idea to see your Doctor about them as it doesnt sound like something you should be getting..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Ditto, my thoughts exactly

Originally Posted by Stubear

I'd really recommend easing up on the pressure you apply, as it sounds from what you're saying like you're using far too much. Or you are using an unbelievably coarse stone, way coarser than you need. As I say, the coarsest I've ever had to go is 325 grit and that was for major edge repair and chip removal.

I agree, in fact I rarely go lower than 1k. For extreme chips I'll use a 600, but usually just start on the 1k.

Minnesotan to Minnesotan,

I've never liked coarse diamond hones for creating bevels: too much vibration as you may have noticed. For the really nasty stuff I break out hones I use on chisels and plane irons, such as a Giant India Combo slicked up with oil and wear away on the hapless razor. It's slower than the coarse diamond hones, but feels and sounds much better.

I suspect the honemeisters will wince at my admisson, but it does work at the coarse, basic bevel level.

Most chipped up edges I'll get by flat honing on a 1k synthetic. The naniwa super or if it is bad a shapton pro 1k which feels more aggressive to me. For worse chips I'll use my DMT 1200 and then go to the synthetic 1k to clean what the plate left. Of course for serious chips I too will go to a 600 plate or even my 325 lapping plate. OTOH, anymore I'd pass on a razor with a chip like that.

I too think the OP was using too much pressure. Firm pressure is applicable in bevel correction some of the time IME but from the sound of the physical consequences it was too much of a good thing.

Axel,

Words of wisdom from all the replies you've had here. You don't need to use much pressure. Let the stone do the work for you.

The edge isn't rolled over, the tip may still be in need (at the very tip) and I made the progress. I didn't get the numbness on the unorthodox other hand's finger, just the hand holding the shank. Also, I was using a twisting action to increase the wear on the edge. But seriously, it takes a LOT to roll the edge on this thing. It's crazy. I was using the DMT D8C, as some of you already guessed. I have a Norton 220/1000, but it is seriously slow going on other razors with the Norton 1000. Maybe I'm a lightweight?

I'll give the 220 a shot. It's just this razor is very stubborn. I only intended to use the D8C as a lapper (Norton flattening stone needs.. flattening ).

I just have sensory overload. At least it's not on some of those other tissues (the ones some people get carried away with and are permanently desensitized). I just want it to get better as soon as possible. I won't be using that DMT D8C for this job for a good long while. Not on a dinky little razor, anyway.