Thread: What am I doing wrong?

Pressure? are you using to much, not enough, any? Has the stone been flattened, cleaned? I found with my Norton's I had to take some of the surface off to get to the better grit(smoother stone) not enough water to move the swarf. Most importantly, time. I still find myself sucking at honing. I have sharpened for others(family and friends) but in no way would try to do it as a profession. Take your time and don't try to rush it. If you need a razor to use, buy another to practice with and get this one sharpened buy someone who knows how to. This will give you a benchmark to work to and a razor to shave with.

I think my pressure is fine, maybe. I know I'm getting a lot of streaking/graying on the 8k side so maybe that means I'm pushing down too hard? It doesn't feel like it though. The stone has been lapped/flattened by the person I bought it from who is a respectable member of this forum although there are a few rough patches on the 8k side nearest the corners.

So if there was a milky slurry on the stone you should be using just enough pressure to have the edge slide under the slurry, so if you ease up just a touch on the pressure it should leave some behind. I also agree that if this isn't a razor that is somewhat expendable, perhaps you should rethink the strategy. here are quite a few shave ready razors for not a lot of cash in the classifieds regularly. My logic is that you really should learn to hone on a razor that is free of geometry issues and can take and hold a very nice shaving edge. There are quite a few for $50-75 that are in the classifieds often and periodically even cheaper than that. I think that would be your best avenue. Also if you could sit down with someone that would be the best. A 30X loupe is handy for checking to see if your scratch patterns are even too. It goes really well with the magic marker.