Thread: Honing failure

I have a Dovo razor that I bought about 8 years ago. When I bought it, it was shave ready and I enjoyed probably 8-10 shaves with it, with just a stropping in between each. Then it became dull and at about the same time I sort of fell out of straight and DE shaving altogether. I put it into a drawer and largely forgot about it.

Fast forward to today. On vacation this week and decided to give it a go. Took it out of the drawer and decided to test it on my forearm. It would not shave hair at all.

So I tried the pyramid from my old WOSRS DVD using my Norton 8000/4000 combo stone, a pasted paddle strop, and a Tony Miller basic hanging strop:

4000 X 3
8000 x 3
4000 X 1
8000 x 3
4000 X 1
8000 x 5
0.5 Diamond Past X 10
Strop X 15

A little better. I can now shave hair on my forearm if I use moderate pressure, but it will not cut a free hanging hair and certainly nowhere near face ready.

What do I do now? Repeat the whole thing? Start a new pyramid with higher stroke count (10-15)? Thoughts/advice?

First step definitely would be to strop on leather much more. Try at least 50 strokes. Since it's been a while, be very careful to make each of those strokes perfect.

If still no go, then try repeating what you did once more, followed with the increased leather stropping again.

Only then would I suggest that you try the more aggressive pyramid.

Good luck and keep trying. Worst case scenario, send it out again for a touch-up. Odds are it needs very little to get it back up to snuff.

Welcome back!

If you have an eye loupe to examine the bevel that is a good thing. One way or the other, if you have a sharpie mark the edge to make sure you're stroke is effectively hitting the bevel from heel to point. One way or the other, read this PDF from the SRP library, then look at the two links on pyramid honing, also from the library ;

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...t_-_Honing.pdf

Honing - Alternative approaches - Straight Razor Place Library

Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Library

Welcome back! You so have to keep at it - you'll be glad you did.


As for getting the blade back into order - I am sure some will say to send it out to a pro to remind yourself what a well honed straight feels like. A benchmark blade/shave as it were. I wouldn't argue that. But you have the stones and on a go-forward basis... you might want to get this down now that you have the time.

I have never mastered the Pyramid method. I know it works - but I can't advise you well. I would imagine that a higher count would be needed as you aren't getting the results you want - but don't forget the "finesse" stage with the 8K. Light strokes.

Speaking of light strokes, remember to be slow and methodical on the strop. A bad stropping can take a good edge away. That said - I think you should lower the diamond count (by at least 5) and increase the leather count (by at least double). But that's me.

Play around - eventually you'll find the magic combo that works for you.

Good luck and enjoy your holiday!!

Oh, I see you are using the Stevie Wonder method…

Get some magnification and look straight down on the edge, if you see shinny spots the bevels are not meeting, you have chipping or both.

You can also check for chipping by lightly dragging the tip of a sharpie or a Q-Tip along the edge. You will feel any chips snag.

You will have to hone out the chips and get the bevels to meet completely. First determine the condition of the edge, then decide how to repair it.

Magnification is the key. Without knowing what needs doing, how will you know when you have done it?

Any pyramid you see is more of a guideline than set in stone procedure. The main point of the pyramid would be to alternate the 4/8k to get the edge where it needs to be, but the number of strokes will depend on the edge condition. you may have to do more pyramids, or you may have to reset the bevel.
From your description, you have to do more on the hone. I'd do more work on the 4k, but if you have a bevel setter definitely use it first. Then do a pyramid(s).

I would try taking all the laps you did and multiply the lap count by 5 except the diamond paste and try again.

Originally Posted by Utopian

First step definitely would be to strop on leather much more. Try at least 50 strokes. Since it's been a while, be very careful to make each of those strokes perfect.

If still no go, then try repeating what you did once more, followed with the increased leather stropping again.

Only then would I suggest that you try the more aggressive pyramid.

Good luck and keep trying. Worst case scenario, send it out again for a touch-up. Odds are it needs very little to get it back up to snuff.

Welcome back!

Stropped it for a solid minute or so, then repeated my pyramid, then stropped it some more. Still not sharp.

I have a 30x jewelers loupe that I use for electronics repair, examined the edge and it looks good, no chips or anything and a nice even bevel the whole length. I think it's just dull. Am I maybe taking the "no pressure" thing too far?

Originally Posted by rodb

I would try taking all the laps you did and multiply the lap count by 5 except the diamond paste and try again.

That's going to be the next step.

In my opinion sharpie test and chip test should be the first step. Then you may need correct the bevel with more work on Norton 4k. Then you can polish the edge.