Thread: Honing Newbie

I have a question, I finally got my stones lapped norton 4k/8k and naniwa 12k and began to hone my razor. I honed the razor decent to what I would think using the pyramid from the wiki starting at 5/5 on the 4k/8k and finished with 10 strokes on the naniwa, it will cut my arm hair with no issues. My question is if my razor still needs more honing (after my shave test) how do you know where to start. Do you start the pyramid over? Or would I continue to use my Naniwa finisher. Thanks

Lately, if I'm taking a razor that is near shave-ready back to the hones this is what I've been doing. Starting with the Norton 4/8, I do the following pyramid with NO PRESSURE, 15/15, 10/10, 5/5, 3/5, 1/5, 1/5, 1/5. Then I go back to my Welsh slate finishers. I can't recommend a number of strokes on the Nani 12 after the pyramid since I've never used one.

I didnt realize you could start as high as 15/15, I just did a shave test and it wasnt bad. I still got a decent shave but with some tugging. I will trying that pyramid starting at 15/15. Thanks

If the razor is close, 15 may be a bit aggressive.... One of those ymmv kind of things. You could always give it 5 or 10 swipes on the 8k and then refinish on the 12k and see where that gets you.

So basically you keep starting the pyramid over starting with less and less strokes till it is shave ready? Also how many 12k strokes should I be doing after each pyramid then how many .5 diamond spray and strops? Thank you

Originally Posted by bmhodges

So basically you keep starting the pyramid over starting with less and less strokes till it is shave ready?

Not exactly. It just depends on how close it is. If it's really sharp but harsh on the face, then you'd be better off spending some quality time on your strop. If the edge is just starting to fall off, you may be able to get it back into shape with just the 12k. If it's a little worse than that, you might need a few strokes on the 8k followed by refinishing on the 12k. Worse than that, and...... you see where this is going. Further, there's no real way to say where your razor will fit into the scheme of things. What you think is harsh may be just how I like a blade to feel, or vice-versa. That being said, you won't hurt the razor to start with a pyramid like I posted above.

Originally Posted by bmhodges

Also how many 12k strokes should I be doing after each pyramid then how many .5 diamond spray and strops? Thank you

Like I said before, I've never used a Nani 12, but something in the 15 to 20 range should be a good place to start. Use as little pressure as you can muster and you'll be fine. Then give it the stropping to end all stroppings. If you've got leather and linen, do 75 on linen and 100 on leather.

As for sprays and pastes, I don't use them at all. I go straight from the rock to the strop to my face.

Originally Posted by myersn024

...a Nani 12, but something in the 15 to 20 range should be a good place to start. Use as little pressure as you can muster and you'll be fine. Then give it the stropping to end all stroppings. If you've got leather and linen, do 75 on linen and 100 on leather.

As for sprays and pastes, I don't use them at all. I go straight from the rock to the strop to my face.

Good advice here...

Originally Posted by myersn024

Not exactly. It just depends on how close it is. If it's really sharp but harsh on the face, then you'd be better off spending some quality time on your strop. If the edge is just starting to fall off, you may be able to get it back into shape with just the 12k. If it's a little worse than that, you might need a few strokes on the 8k followed by refinishing on the 12k. Worse than that, and...... you see where this is going. Further, there's no real way to say where your razor will fit into the scheme of things. What you think is harsh may be just how I like a blade to feel, or vice-versa. That being said, you won't hurt the razor to start with a pyramid like I posted above.



Like I said before, I've never used a Nani 12, but something in the 15 to 20 range should be a good place to start. Use as little pressure as you can muster and you'll be fine. Then give it the stropping to end all stroppings. If you've got leather and linen, do 75 on linen and 100 on leather.

As for sprays and pastes, I don't use them at all. I go straight from the rock to the strop to my face.

This is exactly what I'm looking for, great advice and much appreciated. I feel like I am getting somewhere with honing. I re-honed with the pyramid starting at 15/15 and then 15 strokes on the 12k, followed by 10 on the .5 diamond spray and then 25 strops which I know now is way off. Thanks for clearing up around how many strops and 12k strokes I should be doing. I am also going to start the fun of experimenting with using no spray also.

Good Job!! Your headed in the right direction, just remember as you get closer and closer to you goal edge, what every that might be, the TPT[thumb pad test] starts to become useless as a very sharp shave ready Str8 in my experiance, feels more polished than sticky on the thumb when stroked, magification helps but only to a point, and at the 8k stage the change in the blade are to suptle to be assertained easily by eye.
As always the shave test is the final and absolute test the the finished edge, IMHO, that is!!

Good Hunting! tinkersd