Thread: Quick honing question...

My intent here is to get this answered and then this thread can die if it wants too. So as long as I have been a member you'de think by now I would know this but, since I stink at honing admittedly here goes........I only have my Naniwas 5k,8k and 12k . No paste creams or other implement other than my strop. I have been using Lynn's method on the vids and I swear I can get hair to shave off my arm just fine. I got a great smooth shave after the session but, during the shave there was a lot of pulling. Do I need to do a lot more work on that 12k to alleviate that ?I keep hearin less is more but I get the feeling I do need to do a lot more 12k work. I know the 5 and 8k are sharpening so that's the only thing I can figure is goin on ? I do not own a loop so that's not an option unfortunately.

Hello!

Make sure that the razor shaves arm hair after 5K. The basic thing that you have to set the bevel properly, it's gonna take more time on the 5K then a 1K hone but it should works. Also make sure that the hones are flat !

I've had these blades for a long time and the bevel has been set by some of the best here I don't use a 1k or set my own bevels. As stated ,arm hair shaves fine and hones are flat .

Sorry, I miss read. I had the same problem with lot's of blade, and the bevel was the problem. All of them shaved arm hair but during the shave I felt "pulling". (Same as you) When I took much more time to set the bevel none of them pulled anymore. My opinion that a sharp blade should never pull. If I feel something like this I know that it's time to refresh the edge.

Originally Posted by AlexK

Sorry, I miss read. I had the same problem with lot's of blade, and the bevel was the problem. All of them shaved arm hair but during the shave I felt "pulling". (Same as you) When I took much more time to set the bevel none of them pulled anymore. My opinion that a sharp blade should never pull. If I feel something like this I know that it's time to refresh the edge.

it's all good......and agreed, a sharp blade should not pull, and I wasn't as clear in my post so my bad .

What sort of blades u have anyway? (Grinds) How many strokes did u complete on the hones ?

I am guessing that no matter who set the initial bevel that they don't last forever. I would go to the 5K Nani and hone to reset the bevel and use whatever test you do to prove it is set, mine is that it cuts arm hairs easily all along the blade. It could take a bit of time at 5K. For me there will be much fewer strokes on the next two stones as you are only really polishing the bevel and edge. Yea a jewelers loupe and a felt marker can be very handy to see your progress otherwise you can be just guessing.

Bob

I'm with Alex, I think the problem is in the bevel. I can imagine that it needs resetting after a long while and I really don't think the 12K can eliminate the tugging your refer to.

Have you ever tried pyramid honing? I'm really hooked, as I cannot get the refinement I seek otherwise. I do a 4K/8K pyramid starting at 10 strokes, then an 8K/16K pyramid starting at 5 strokes (last 5 strokes of the first pyramid are also the first 5 strokes of the second pyramid):

Code:

4K - 8K - 16K
10 - 10
5 - 5
3 - 3
1 - 3
1 - 5 - 5
    3 - 3
    1 - 3
    1 - 5

Originally Posted by BobH

I am guessing that no matter who set the initial bevel that they don't last forever. I would go to the 5K Nani and hone to reset the bevel and use whatever test you do to prove it is set, mine is that it cuts arm hairs easily all along the blade. It could take a bit of time at 5K. For me there will be much fewer strokes on the next two stones as you are only really polishing the bevel and edge. Yea a jewelers loupe and a felt marker can be very handy to see your progress otherwise you can be just guessing.

Bob

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. This is more of a refreshing the blade deal as I have used them enough that it was getting to be that time. I went about 40 circles and 40 x's on the 5 with pressure and about 10 circles and 10 x's on the 8 no pressure. Shaved hair like a champ....did about 10 x's on the 12 and went to it. My face is bbs with no red so I know the blade is sharp put it's the pulling still which has got me guessing. a bbs would not be achieved without a decent bevel and there would definitely be irritation or redness afterwards.

Bob I think you're right, so I will be doing more 5k...thanks man.