Thread: Losing my bevel

Here's what's happening.. Get my bevel set on the 1k passes the tnt ..I have had success setting bevels.. I'm using choseras so I then move onto the 3k then 5 k then 10,15,20 k suehiro.. My problem is as I get to higher grits the bevel is gone..?? I have read here that it's possibly a pressure problem.. ?? I usually use a good amount of pressure on the 1k to set bevel.. Then diminishing pressure . Hit the 3 k same thing.. Great pressure during the starting strokes and diminishing pressure as I finish.. Same all the way up.. I have just been testing my bevels at 20 k just to see if I still have it after the 20 k .. Guess what the tnt isn't grabbing??? Suggestions.. I have had success in the past with a great amount of razors ..I'm no pro .. But what's going on??

I usually only use light pressure after my bevel set and have not experienced this issue. I use a very similar stone set to yours. I wouldn't say zero pressure as I think that is an impossibility but I keep it fairly light after the bevel set.

So when u move to the next stone ur keeping ur pressure lighter after the bevel,is set?? And could strong pressure after a bevel is set then diminish the bevel on let's say the 3k

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

I have just been testing my bevels at 20 k just to see if I still have it after the 20 k .. Guess what the tnt isn't grabbing???

You are messing it up every time you do the TNT

It ONLY works at the lower grit ranges TNT is for a bevel set nothing after that in fact it destroys the fine edge after the bevel set, Once you get to the higher grits the TNT just doesn't really grab anyway

And yes no real pressure after the bevel set, No TNT and very light pressure

U hit it on the head.. The tnt isn't supposed to grab after the 20k.. I understand that by doing the tnt it destroys the edge at higher grits.. I wasn't sure if it was still supposed to be digging into my nail at the 20 k level..ok so after the bevel set I'll move up to the higher grits and use very ill pressure from the 3k up to the 20 k thanks..recently my razors smoothness just hasn't been there like in the past.. I'll try the lighter pressure see where it goes

As Glen pointed out TNT is destructive, even when done at lower grits you have to go back to the stone to fix what you did.
I will try to explain how I do it but keep in mind there is a significant difference on the first drop/ starting on the 1k and finishing on the 1k,
this is the stone that sees the most pressure variance.

As I move up in grit the pressure decreases, as does the pressure as I work an individual grit.
The pressure I start with on the 5k (my usual step up from the 1k) is just slightly heavier than I ended on the 1k but no where near the pressure I started with on the 1k.
And this only last 7-10 strokes (one segment of how I hone) and the pressure decreases from there.
I always start the next grit just the slightest bit heavier than I ended the last,
as I come off the 5k and head to the 8k I am down to just above the weight of the blade to start.
By the time I am at the 12k stone it is only about controlling the blade if that makes sense.

Did you ever play the little hand held water games with the rings or balls as a kid?
That first squeeze or two you can smash that button and blast it good, and with a little luck it will land where you need it,
but if you want to master/finish it you have to learn the light touch and only hitting half way, tilting it at the right angle at the right time.
Slowly diminishing to the almost undetectable touch to nudge it that last little bit.

You know holding your mouth right....

It is that type of thing,
less is more when you are walking an edge in.

I don't know if that analogy helped but hey it makes sense to me so I thought I would share.

Forget the TNT. Ink your edge with Sharpie marker, then do three light strokes on a dry stone. Then look at your edge with good lighted magnification to see if there is any ink visible on your edge. If ink is showing, your bevel is not set. Repeat the process until no ink is showing after three strokes on the dry stone. Then and only then is your bevel properly set.

This is the very best indicator of a proper bevel set. It never fails. Good luck......

Tremendous help brother Ty.. And long time no speak hope all is well.. U probably just fixed my problem.. I was wailing away on the hones lately at the starting strokes and then going lightly .. Today I started to lighten up and got my groove back a lil bit.. I'll really try what ur explaining tomorrow..and let u know my results.. I knew about the tnt and the bevel I just didn't know if it was supposed to b there at higher grits but glen answered that

Ok I'll try all this stuff.. Is it possible to have removed all the ink and have no tnt??

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

Ok I'll try all this stuff.. Is it possible to have removed all the ink and have no tnt??

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As I stated, forget the TNT, it is destructive and inconclusive. The marker test is dead on every time. It never fails when done properly. Three light strokes on a dry stone. Check with lighted magnification. Continue until all ink is gone. Then you may move to the 3k etc.