Thread: First Honing

Is one of these razors the one that was pro honed?

If so, then it should not need bevel setting. Chrome Ox strop and or the 12K is all you will need.

I did not see where you had magnification. Learning to hone without magnification is like learning to drive with your eyes closed.
As said get some magnification and strong light and first look at the bevels and straight down on the edge. That will tell you what needs to be done. It could be just a 12k touch up or a full bevel set.

Once the bevel is set, you are absolutely sure it is completely set across the full length of the edge, then progress to the 4k. Hair test, tell you only the 1 micron of edge is sharp, not the rest of the edge. Your eyes will tell you when the whole bevel is set, no shinny reflections of light.

TPT is learned by experience, test every sharp object, to calibrate “your” thumb. Telling someone what a TPT feels like is like telling someone how tight is tight.

At 4k, remove the 1k stria without chipping or rolling the edge, again look at the bevel and straight down on the edge. Inking the bevel can help you here, once the ink is completely removed so should the previous stria, as the ink fills the stria.

At 8 and 12k do the same. Angle the last few strokes in opposite directions in the progression. Use little pressure in the mid grits and almost none to finish.

Once the bevels are flat and meeting evenly (Bevel Set) the mid grits go quickly, finish with light long strokes. Everything after bevel setting is polishing, the more you polish the finer/straighter the edge. Too much or too much pressure can chip or make a fragile edge.

Experience will tell you how much is too much. Once the previous stria is removed, strop on plain leather and shave. Strop on Chrome Ox for comfort or to refresh an edge as needed.

Here