Thread: Honing Journey

Originally Posted by Lynn

Patience is key.

Bevel setting is key.

Even pressure is key.

Learning from your successes as well as mistakes is key.

Having fun is key.

Getting a great shave from your first success is priceless!!

All true. Lynn's video on this topic posted @ Gentleman's Gazette was indispensable
to my razors getting straightened out and usable in a HURRY!

Thanks, Lynn!

Could you post a link to Lynn's video? I searched for it but came up empty.

Learning to hone on a "dream" razor can create a nightmare. Flea market razors exist for a reason.

Originally Posted by BobH

Can't add more to what has been said but just reinforce to stay with the DD till you get it sorted. It will be easier than working on the wedge. For the wedge you can take a gander at http://www.coticule.be/wedges.html for some ideas as to how to go about honing one. There is an excel document there that will help you determine how much tape to use on the spine and it was a hrlp in that regard to me in honing a wedge.

Bob

Thanks for the link. I will save it and check it out once I've gotten some practice on other razors first.

Originally Posted by myersn024

Like bill3152 said, you've got to make sure that the bevel is properly set before moving to the next stone. It took me quite a while to finally learn when a bevel was set and when it wasn't. Thanks to a couple of different people, along with Glen and Lynn's honing videos I finally started getting good edges on a regular basis. Here's where I'm going to buck the trend a little, though. If you've gotten used to shaving with pro-honed edges, you're going to have a very difficult time getting an 8k edge into the same ballpark as what you're accustomed to. It's not impossible, but it is a difficult task. For me, even the best 8k edge in the world will tear my face up. If you have some CrOx, you might give your 8k edge a few laps on that and see if it helps.

Your words are both discouraging and challenging at the same time, haha. You're right, I have only shaved with pro-honed edges thus far, but I do hope to be able to properly set my own bevels and get great shaves off of the 8k. I always do enjoy a good challenge.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Patience is key.

Bevel setting is key.

Even pressure is key.

Learning from your successes as well as mistakes is key.

Having fun is key.

Getting a great shave from your first success is priceless!!

Haha, no doubt! Thanks for your words of wisdom, Lynn. I will keep them in mind when I whip out the hone tonight.

Originally Posted by crouton976

Yeah, you can definitely set bevels on the 4K, which is what makes the 4/8k combo such a versatile stone. I was just curious if you were refining a bevel that had been set and needed a bit of touch up work or setting it from the get go.

My understanding (and I'm definitely no expert... still learning myself) is that when you're setting the bevel one of many things to look for is if you're getting black marks on the stone while setting the bevel. If so, than it's not set yet.

The good thing about that bright white 4k side is that you can see this reeeeeal easy. I know you said you were using tape on the W&B, but if you were on the DD too, the only thing touching the stone, as far as bare metal, should have been the bevel. If it was still leaving black marks, you definitely have more work to do there.

Again, I'm still a novice, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. Any more experienced folks, please correct me if I'm mistaken about something, as I certainly don't want to steer anyone wrong.

There certainly were black marks being left on my 4k still, even with the Dubl Duck, but especially the wedge W&B! This is good to know, and should help me get a feel of where I'm at. I've heard that you should be able to do the HHT and it be successful at the 4k level before moving on to the 8k. Is this true? If so, I feel like it will take a lot of time. But as Lynn said, patience is key! Tonight I will be set up in the house at the kitchen table, compared to working out in the shop standing up. Should be a lot more comfortable, and allow me to relax and keep my patience.

Originally Posted by Galaxy51

Could you post a link to Lynn's video? I searched for it but came up empty.

I would love for the link to be posted as well. Thanks!

Sorry for the double post but it wouldn't let me quote your post as well...

Originally Posted by ace

Learning to hone on a "dream" razor can create a nightmare. Flea market razors exist for a reason.

Exactly why I set down the W&B and went with the Dubl Duck! I have a couple others I recently obtained that I may start out with tonight- probably the John Weis or Engels. Or my Spike, but it's kinda on the wedgey side as well.

Good bevel on 4k and good stropping WILL get you hht. If it doesnt something is wrong. Maybe the honing or maybe the stropping.

Originally Posted by Chreees

I've heard that you should be able to do the HHT and it be successful at the 4k level before moving on to the 8k. Is this true? !

The HHT is the most useless abomination ever brought into the straight shaving world...

Unless you have calibrated it to your hair you are wasting your time, try a DE edge for an idea of calibration on every "Feel or Hair" test..

Better yet it means NOTHING to anyone else, just because I can get an HHT that I have calibrated it doesn't relate to your hair or your edge, and then to take it even farther with stages of HHT is even more ridicules ..

Basic first question,,, How does the HHT work for you on a new DE blade ??? if you can answer that then at least you are not totally in the dark...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The HHT is the most useless abomination ever brought into the straight shaving world...

Unless you have calibrated it to your hair you are wasting your time, try a DE edge for an idea of calibration on every "Feel or Hair" test..

Better yet it means NOTHING to anyone else, just because I can get an HHT that I have calibrated it doesn't relate to your hair or your edge, and then to take it even farther with stages of HHT is even more ridicules ..

Basic first question,,, How does the HHT work for you on a new DE blade ??? if you can answer that then at least you are not totally in the dark...

I'll admit Glen, I have never "passed" the HHT with any of my razors, all of which have been pro-honed thus far. They still shaved very well. This is why I asked, as I have seen it said many times a razor must "pass the HHT test" to properly shave. I'm glad you responded to my question. I have never even touched a DE blade, so I can't answer your question regarding it, unfortunately. I'm an oddball who went from electrics to straights, haha.

Originally Posted by Chreees

I'll admit Glen, I have never "passed" the HHT with any of my razors, all of which have been pro-honed thus far.

1. That should tell you quite a bit

They still shaved very well.

2. Ah Ha !!!!


I have seen it said many times a razor must "pass the HHT test" to properly shave.

3. Total BS, you already know that to be untrue

I have never even touched a DE blade, so I can't answer your question regarding it, unfortunately.

4. Go buy a cheap pack of Persona's at Wally World and try all the tests with a fresh edge and get a base for everything the TNT, TPT, AHT, HHT, etc: etc:

That's all I got hehehe

Originally Posted by gssixgun

That's all I got hehehe

Lol! You're funny. I asked the question anyway to see what the response would be... As I always suspected it to not be the case, but was still curious anyway as I never really paid it much attention before, considering I wasn't the one honing my blades.

I have been wanting to try DEs anyway, so I will pick up some soon! Thanks, Glen.