First shave after honing- didn't go very well

I'm new to all of this- honing, straight shaving etc, but after reading a lot on here and watching lots of youtube videos I thought I'd be able to handle everything.

I purchased a new dovos, Japanese King 1000/6000 waterstone and a Welsh finishing stone (seller rated it 12000+). I also purchased a paddle strop.

I initially got into this to save money, and now I'm over $350 bucks in the hole.

So I seemed to have a bit of trouble with the king, because it's narrower than my blade, also seemed to have trouble with keeping it even just using the weight of the blade, so I mostly did it with pressure which seemed to keep it even. Probably did 40 laps just on the 6000. I wasn't satisfied with shaving my arm hair test, so I did some circles on the 1000 grit then went back to the 6000 and did the best I could trying to do an x pattern, although I think the sharpening wasn't perfectly even. Then I finished on the Welsh which I think I did okay on because it's plently wide. Finally, did about 40 laps on each side of the leather paddle strop.

Ok, so I spent all my money on buying all this stuff, so I decided I'd buy a shave brush and soap later. So instead I just used cream from the can I had left. Lathered up my face like Santa, took out the dovos, and then tried shaving with the grain. Just about nothing. Against the grain wasn't much better, but after a few minutes with very slow moving I did manage to cut below the chin although it felt like the hairs were being pulled out more than cut. The moustache, which probably has my coarsest hairs, didn't really cut at all.

I'm in South Korea and my wife is pissed about all the money I've spent, so I need to try to work with what I have if it's possible. Any tips? Should I always be keeping the blade flush to the stone or should I hone at a bit of an angle? I did it flush but it didn't seem to sharpen up much.

Thanks for any tips you can give...

To be honest the only time I hone with a 6k stone is when I'm working my way up after I set the bevel. When I have a razor that I know has a good edge I just start at an 8k stone. As for keeping the blade flush, yes! Lay the blade flat on the stone, the spine is what sets the edge. Have you watch Lynn's video on honing? If not then that is the best place to start, the video will show you how to do it and techniques he uses.

As for the wife, well your on your own:-)

http://youtu.be/

It will take some time. I would suggest getting a shave ready razor from whipped dog. This way you have something to compare your edge to. It will come, but you have to expect a learning curve. Lots of videos to watch and the various tests arm hair, hht etc.

Thanks guys I had a feeling someone would mention an 8k stone, gonna have to live without it for awhile though.

Is shaving with goo in a can okay for the time being?

I see you linked me to honing with a norton- will that technique work with what I have? thanks.

Give yourself some time to learn honing. Practice on flea market razors, and don't shave with them until you have learned how to produce a good edge. It took me a month of afternoon practices to get it right. It comes, but it doens't come quickly. Like any skill, it takes some time to develop.

Thanks ace. Is going from a 6k to a finishing stone okay?

I would use the 12k stone as you finishing stone. It might take you a lot longer but I think it would be better then a 6k. Goo in a can is fine, just put it on lite so you can see your skins. to thick you might stab yourself. You can buy a cheap gold dollar razor to practice honing on, and if you kill it you won't feel guilty. There just recycled ford pintos we sent to china.

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Originally Posted by Brettnj

I would use the 12k stone as you finishing stone. It might take you a lot longer but I think it would be better then a 6k. Goo in a can is fine, just put it on lite so you can see your skins. to thick you might stab yourself. You can buy a cheap gold dollar razor to practice honing on, and if you kill it you won't feel guilty. There just recycled ford pintos we sent to china.

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Sorry, I meant just skip using an intermediate stone, so hone on a 6k and then skip an 8k and move to the finishing stone.

Looks like I need another knife, my wife won't be very happy.

Well, the stones you've already got are exactly the same setup I started with, and you should be able to get good edges with them. The jump in grit from 1k - 6k is large, so it means you'll have to spend longer on the 6k than if you had a 3 or 4k in between.

As well as Lynn's videos, gssixgun has done quite a lot, and they're very helpful too.

You should be able to shave straight off the 1k if you are getting a good bevel. It may not be the most comfortable shave, but you can shave off it. Any other stone with higher grit will refine and polish the edge for a much more comfortable shave.

You should also make sure your stones are flat and the razor doesn't rock on the stone. You can use any number of devices to flatten your stone. I prefer a certified flat granite plate which are about $50 on eBay, then put sandpaper on it. Or you can opt for a diamond lapping plate or even Norton makes a good lapping stone for about $27.

Thanks gotdzel, that's helpful info to know then. I do have a lapping stone so I guess I'm good to go. What are some common mistakes beggining honers make?

I am in the same boat as you. I have tried and tried for a month already to get honing down pat, and nothing seems to work. My advice is to get your shaving down pat first then get yourself a mentor, someone who can show you what youre doing right and what you're doing wrong. I just got one and I'm meeting him on Sunday. Keep studying the forum in the meantime. I know I should practice what I preach but this is the best advice I can give you! I too thought that it was going to be a cheap way out but its not- not at first anyway. As far as the wife goes you're just going to have to start hiding stuff from her like I do! Lol

Sounds like a good idea. Short on mentors in s. korea though, most Koreans don't grow much of a beard, and those that do prefer things as modern as possible.

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Originally Posted by Gotdzel

You should be able to shave straight off the 1k if you are getting a good bevel. It may not be the most comfortable shave, but you can shave off it. Any other stone with higher grit will refine and polish the edge for a much more comfortable shave.

You should also make sure your stones are flat and the razor doesn't rock on the stone. You can use any number of devices to flatten your stone. I prefer a certified flat granite plate which are about $50 on eBay, then put sandpaper on it. Or you can opt for a diamond lapping plate or even Norton makes a good lapping stone for about $27.

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or he could use 180 grit wet/dry sand paper on a piece of plate glass and save himself a lot of money. Use the 6k until you can take the hair off your arm, don't worry about a hanging hair test. When you can take hair off your arm then go to the other stone, you will be there for some time but it will polish it.

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Originally Posted by kingplaya4

Sounds like a good idea. Short on mentors in s. korea though, most Koreans don't grow much of a beard, and those that do prefer things as modern as possible.

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True, but at least you can buy a shave ready razor from our classifides here and have something to compare it to. Btw, welcome to SRP!

Try this Wiki for some tips and tricks to honing. Tons of good info here:

Category:Straight Razor Maintenance - Honing & Stropping - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Light pressure with more strokes on the stone seems to perform better and be more forgiving than say firm pressure and fewer strokes. Also there is a forum thread on here somewhere (can't find it at the moment) that is about using the 1k stone to shave off of for beginners. Once you can do that, it's all about riding the gravy train to a polished edge! :)

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Originally Posted by Brettnj

or he could use 180 grit wet/dry sand paper on a piece of plate glass and save himself a lot of money. Use the 6k until you can take the hair off your arm, don't worry about a hanging hair test. When you can take hair off your arm then go to the other stone, you will be there for some time but it will polish it.

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This is also very true!!

Thanks for the welcome. You guys are awesome, never had such fast answers to a thread before. Thanks everyone!

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Originally Posted by Gotdzel

Also there is a forum thread on here somewhere (can't find it at the moment) that is about using the 1k stone to shave off of for beginners.

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Here: Beginners 1k shave

Hi there KP4...

Some Honing Facts:

Once the Bevel is well and truely set you can shave..

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...-1k-shave.html


There are NO straight up and down the hone strokes, if you go straight up and down the hone you will create a Frown..

The hones you have are more the good enough to hone a Dovo

Everything between the 1k and the Welsh slate (which color ????) is just there to make your life easier, one can hone with just the 1k and the Slate if you know how

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...lynn-glen.html

There are many more videos from Lynn and myself showing that technique now.. I haven't done one using the Welsh slate but I know it can be done, use the Thuringen vids it will be about the same, depending on if you have the Purple or the Green..

The King 6k will just make that transition easier

Use a New DE blade to test your tests TNT TPT HHT etc: etc: that is the best you can do since you dont have another SR.

You are doing this the hardest way possible your climb is going to take much longer.. Watch the new shave Test vid I just posted, that is what you are after until you can do that there is no sense in abusing your face.. It is hard to know whether the fault is the Shaving or the Honing since you are learning both at the same time :(

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...-test-vid.html


There are a ton of Vids on Lynn's Channel and on mine .. You have given yourself a huge mountain to climb, it can be done but it is going to take practice and time...

http://www.youtube.com/user/LynnSAbrams/videos?view=0

http://www.youtube.com/user/gssixgun/videos?view=0

PS: If you want to cover the shipping I will hone the razor for free to get you started, I am trying to think if we have guys that hone on your side of the world :hmmm: maybe one will match my offer and save you some shipping $$$

Just tell your wife you will be saving money in the long run, and buy her flowers and soju, good luck:-)

King,

I'm also new to honing, and have learned through trial and error. I only have about 7 really successful honing sessions under my belt on 7 different razors. I have a Norton 220/1000, 4000/8000, and a Naniwha 12000 as a finisher. I use a DMT325 to lap my hones. (I also have a Japanese stone of unknown grit and an Arkansas Translucent that is so hard I could drive nails with it. At my experience level I have no idea if they have helped much or not.)

My first sharpening experience was on my new Dovo that needed a touch up. I went straight to the 4000 and 8000, applied pressure to the blade and ended up wiping out the bevel. It felt like I was using tweezers to shave with. I went back and tried to fix it on the 8000 and 12000 and it didn't help. After getting over the frustration and disappointment I went to the library tab above on the menu bar and read all about bevels and printed out the pyramid charts. I learned a few crucial lessons. The first was that if I keep my right elbow (I'm right handed) lifted to where my arm was level with the stone surface I didn't have any issue with keeping the blade flat and level. The second was that by using the pyramid with the 4000/8000 and following up with the 12000 I got an excellent shave. The third was to be patient and let the stones do the cutting. Light strokes produced the keenest edge for me.

I had to reset the bevel that I messed up. I used the 1000 lightly with X strokes and a magnifying glass looking at the edge every few stroke sets. I stayed on the 1000 until it popped arm hairs and moved to the pyramid. I haven't had to touch it for a while now and I have a pretty tough beard (it rotates in about every third day).

Patience and utilizing the wealth of knowledge in the library have helped me to refine my technique and learn to use my tools correctly. Although...I'm working on a warped Joseph Rogers that I would have already cut my wrists with if I could get it sharp enough!

As far as saving money...:rofl2:

Dovo's are my work horse razors. I think they are a great value and they hone and shave very consistently. What I hope is that you refine your honing skills and develop good results and confidence ASAP. This will provide you with the swagger you need to explain these investments to the wife. :rock: Also, it is very satisfying to have a BBS shave with a razor that you bevel set, honed and stropped yourself. I agree with the advice given about buying a pre-honed truly shave ready razor or having a honemeister keen up one of your existing razors. He/she may also be able to assess what you were doing wrong with your honing when they first receive your razor- which would be valuable feedback. This will provide you with a great benchmark when learning to hone. This coupled with several excellent videos will make your learning curve less frustrating. Eventually you will find that while you may not have the ideal hone grit number setup you can still work with what you've got and get your razors wicked keen because you understand what you are doing to the edge.

Kingplaya4
It will all come to you at once, with just one blade all of a sudden everything will just click. I am going to suggest that you spend an extra few minutes with really hot water getting your skin and beard ready for shaving.
Alx