Hey guys,

First real post here...I was just wondering how long it has taken most of you until you could successfully hone your own razors - specifically, from the bevel-setting stage (not refreshing)? And without having a mentor.

I have been trying to have my first successful attempt with a razor for over a month now, basically walking away from it for 2-3 days at a time when I get frustrated, culminating in about 10 attempts or so. I've watched Lynn's videos religiously countless times, in addition to reading this and other forums. I have been going with just the Norton 4k/8k since there seems to be a consensus about learning how to use that effectively first, before adding the variability of 1k stones and finishing stones, and I have been using the circle method as described by Lynn.

Before I had been taping, but after reading more and thinking about it I decided against it and today tried the full process without tape after 3 sets in bevel setting mode, the whole edge felt as people describe it should be on the TPT, and was cutting hair. Then I followed up with the no-pressure set on the 4k before doing the final x strokes on the 8k...after which it felt almost dull again, but I decided to just strop and shave test it to see, and it passed over the hairs, just like every previous step. I am thinking at this point that I am doing fine on the bevel setting, but I must be doing something wrong in the sharpening/polishing stages.

So has anyone else had this problem, and if so how long did it take you to get through it? I feel that, although honing is certainly not an easy craft, after a month of trying and researching I should have been successful by now. Were I back in the US I would just find a mentor or just send it off to get honed, but since I'm currently in Japan that is not an economical option at this time. In any case, if anyone here has had as much difficulty as I have that would at least be enough encouragement to keep trying, though I get this feeling like I'm the only person be this bad at the craft.

So any comments about how long/tough your learning process was or any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.


PS: the blade I am trying to hone is just a standard Dovo carbon steel full hollow ground.