Thread: Quick honing question...

AFDavis11


Yea, I was asking you. I had understood the OP had already gone down to the 5K previous to posting as per post #9. I am with you on refreshing a blade at the highest grit you have and working backwards if that does not work. A bevel reset is a last resort for me too. Being a novice to honing I was just trying to clarify things in my mind which you have done for me.

Bob

BobH,

Cool. I hate to comment if I'm not being asked.

I agree that the 5k work probably already occurred. I'm very careful about assumptions though. In the OP I wasn't sure, and using the "Lynn" method didn't really clarify what had actually been done to that specific razor, for me.

I think some of my posts get misinterpreted. I think there is a standard solution to honing problems, and then a more careful approach I prefer with those that are learning.

I think the strategy of working backwards isn't well articulated. I think beginners need more emphasis on an "if this, then that" approach. The this being a honing or shaving test result and the that being a honing recommendation.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I think this is too dramatic of a description. A razor that "pulls" is usually just a beginner not knowing how to shave, a razor that begins pulling might just need a slight refresh. Pulling is a pretty normal sign for a razor that has been used, by a beginner for more than 10 shaves, or an expert for a few months.

It is not an automatic conclusion that the edge has been "damaged" and needs to be re-set. Although it's true that the problem could be caused by anything, and the correction needed could be intensive, it shouldn't be our first recommendation.

My first recommendation was, before anything was done to this razor, especially if you are a novice to honing or maintenance, find out what the problem is.

Simply looking at an edge with or without magnification would have done nothing to make the problem worst and at the least you may be able to determine a course of action based on the degree of damage.

Now that it has been on the stones it is no longer the edge Glen put on it, in fact most probably after it was stropped the first time it was no longer the same edge.

The OP said, “Well let's put it this way Glen was the last guy to sharpen my blade so it was like a samurai blade and shaved great. I should clarify here. My straights don't get a lot of use because of my honing skills and I have not dinged the blades or anything like that, so I am confident it's not the bevel.”

So, if it was not pulling before and now it is, something happened to damage the “edge”. The degree of damage should be determined before any action, or better said to determine the best course of action.

Too often the solution is to get it on the hones when possibly stropping will solve the problem. Unfortunately stropping is usually the cause of a dulled edge and the resulting “pulling”.

Now the razor has an entirely new and different problem, one that most probably will require a bevel re-set.

Still, until someone looks at the bevel and edge, we won’t know…

This will be a bit long but here goes.

Was the spine taped. All of Glen vids I've seen he taped the spine. If he taped and you didn't you weren't honing the edge of the bevel. If Glen didn't tape it and you did you would create a micro bevel which would only make it easier for you.

You said you used light pressure on the 5k then moved to the 8k. You need to finish on every hone with no pressure so to leave the lightest scratch pattern possible so as to get the most from every stone. It also means you need less work on the next stone to achieve the same edge as you refined it more on the previous step.

You have been finishing on the 12k which is a finishing stone to achieve a smooth, sharp, tug free edge. You should be achieving this at the 8k level and until you do the 12k is polishing an unfinished,unrefined edge. Get it right at the 8k then move on to the 12k.

Retouching up a razor should have been 5-10 laps on the 12k with no pressure. You have moved back 3 steps to mid level sharpening again. You now need to ensure a bevel then move through each hone getting each stage correct to bring the razor back to shaving properly again.

I hope this is useful for you and that you get the edge your chasing. Good luck. Ed