Thread: Confessions of a First Time Honer ...

Okay gents, here's my latest.

I broke the Shoubu out again last night. Tried to make a thinner slurry but that didn't seem to work.

Then I made a slurry using the flat side of the tomo (instead of with the edge) and used a little more pressure to start with. I kept honing using X strokes using gradually lighter pressure. Must have been about 50 laps. I tried the arm hair test - no good. HHT - also no good. I stropped about 80 times on Roo then tried HHT. I managed to get about a HHT 3 I reckon.

I put another 30 odd laps on the roo strop and put he razor away.

Shaved with it this morning ... A bit rough and some pulling but a semi decent shave out of it.

I think I am slowly getting good contact on the hone and a natural-feeling stroke.

Back to it again tonight to see if I can get a HHT result straight off the hone.

This is getting good!!!

Don't ever use the word "broke" in the same sentence with any reference to a hone!

By any chance, are you taping the spine of the razor? If so, you always need to be aware of the wearing away of the tape causing a change in the honing angle which will lift the edge off of the hone.

Congrats on converting your razor from shave ready to dull to semi decent! You are making progress.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Don't ever use the word "broke" in the same sentence with any reference to a hone!

By any chance, are you taping the spine of the razor? If so, you always need to be aware of the wearing away of the tape causing a change in the honing angle which will lift the edge off of the hone.

Congrats on converting your razor from shave ready to dull to semi decent! You are making progress.

I thought the word 'broke' might generate a comment!

No, I'm not taping while I hone, so my angle should always be the same (unless of course I accidentally lift the spine off the hone due to inexperience).

Thanks for the congrats. I didn't get a chance to hone last night, so I'll try and find time tonight. Today I shaved with a properly honed edge on a Friodur 6/8 and it was soo much sharper and smoother than my honing effort. Which means I just need to keep practising ...