Thread: Help having problems honing

WELL, at 73 jumped into buying straight razors for a hobby.Well, the polishing went ok on the vintage razors,but the honing process is something else.I can get them sharp ,but not ready to shave which is a BIG difference.I have the stones 1000,2000/5000,6000,8,000,10,000.Some of the stones are Chinese and Japanese.some are stone the newer ones are ceramic from naniwa.No matter how I hone them they come out sharp but not shave ready.have watched you-tube honing but not much help. I have bought a few ready to shave razors and looking at them,its looks like someone made ONE pass with some tool and its ready to use.Getting so frustrated do not know what I am doing wrong and the fact that I work so hard on them? I am missing it somewhere------------------HELP.

The most important part is to make sure you have a proper bevel set where the 2 edges meet perfectly. Do you have any type of magnification to make sure this is so?

Have you watched any of the video's we have on honing? Where are you? Maybe some member is nearby or maybe a meet is happening not too far away.

Ok are you saying edges from one side of blade to the other end,sorry no magnification.correction on the last statement,only a 2--3 inch magnification glass.I see where you are heading now.Now what ---by the numbers please.

I am in south texas.

I have just joined---1 hour ago.trying to find my way around , where are the videos please? I need a seeing-eye dog

I'm meaning from either side of the blade...the 2 edges should meet in a V. If the bevel isn't fully set then any other stone progression is futile. If by numbers you mean the grit of the stone then you should start your bevel set on your 1K

Here's a good place to start...

Bevel-setting in theory and practice - Straight Razor Place Library

I go 1k till I can shave. It might not be comfortable but it should shave. Then you move on. It might be frustrating and take a while but in reality it takes less time because you get it done right the first time. Like they say slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Take your time, relax and meditate on it. If you start to get frustrated stop and pick up the next day. Don't think of it as a job or something that you have to do. I will pour a nice glass of beer or scotch (my new interest) and watch some TV and hone. But honestly we have all felt your pain. I have a wedge that has been driving me nuts for like 2 months just honing it when I feel like I've built up some patience to deal with it. Any ways happy honing hope this helped a little

No, wonder I having problems no one has mention this to me its all greek----------"two edges meeting in a V" maybe you need to go a little deeper on this subject as many you-tube videos as I have seen have never heard of this.Sure could use some lessons.My barber sure has not helped any maybe I need to send him to you also