Thread: Another New Honer...

Originally Posted by Murmle

I understand the single most important thing is: BEVEL, BEVEL, BEVEL!!!

3) Where should I start?? the 1k?? the 4k?? the 220?????

For me a loupe or a microscope helps with this but only because I know what to look for. Even so honing scratches can make assessment tricky unless you look at things from a number of angles . Some use thumb pad or nail tests. All are useful & used in combination even better.

Experience & 'screwing up' will teach you a lot.

Look around for pics on SRP if you area visual learner.
Link below shows some diffrences between incomplete & complete bevel.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...tml#post892889

I'm by far no expert when it comes to honing.. I have had great success using the pyramids.. The biggest part of honing is the bevel.i usually use the 1 k to set my bevel then the 4/8 Norton for the pyramids, then the nainwa 12k as a finisher. I still have about three out of about fifty razors that no matter what I do I can't get right.. Those ill send out.. Good luck !!!

Glenn (gssixgun) taught me to hone via his videos.
There are many good ones on YouTube (some not so), however, I found that I could 'relate' to how Glenn explains what he is doing and why.
My suggestion would be to watch all of them 'cause each one contains a 'gem' of info that you can put to use in your own method.
Hope this helps

Well Gentlemen, I took the plunge last night and put a My Torrey "Whip" to the stones... I started by Lapping the 4k side with the Flattening stone, and two grids later it seemed pretty flat and smooth, then there was the 8k side... Not NEARLY as easy to lap... I kinda gave up at one point when my arm about fell off and the corners still haven't been touched by the plate!!! Well I went over to a friends house to watch some TV and brought my 4k/8k with me, I have NO IDEA what strokes I did or how many on which Grit...(oops) I realized that I prolly shoulda brought my 1k too but didn't wanna lug around both stones and I knew from http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html that I could set a bevel using the 4k if I really tried,, so thats what I did!! I started with circles then some X-strokes then some Straight strokes and more circles, sorry I kinda just zen'd out on the whole thing, well when I was able to take off hair at the skin I decided to do what I could remember about the Pyramid, and started with some circles and x strokes on the 8k side then pyramided back and forth for a while... I can't say that it was the sharpest blade I had ever seen but it was taking hair off above skin level and the bevel was ALMOST equal across the whole edge with just a little less at the toe and heel than in the middle. I'm pretty sure part of the heel issue was the shoulder on the blade kept getting onto the stone so there was less contact there, and my elbow kept trying to droop so that may be the toe issue... Anyway, I did shave with it this morning after a 50/50 on my strop and seemed to be a darn decent shave!! Not too bad for my first go, but I will definitely be trying to smooth it out and make it even better!! I think I'm gonna like this new aspect of this hobby/sport/indulgence/chore/LOVE!!!