Thread: Experimenting with Finishing Methods?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

These two things go hand in hand besides anything else you do

Let me try and explain

Pick up a blade call it a "0"

Set the bevel correctly it becomes a "1"
Sharpen it and it is a "2"
Polish it and you have a "3"
Proper finishing gives you a "4"

Create a burr and you have a "-1"

Don't create a burr unless you are doing serious restoration, you are wasting steel and starting with a chewed up fragile edge....

I only resorted to that method after trying unsuccessfully to achieve a suitably sharp edge using the method demonstrated by Lynn on YouTube. It looked pretty good with my 30x loupe afterward, but my experience is so limited that I don't really know what "good" is. I will probably glass the edge per bluesman's suggestion, and revisit the circle method now that I feel a bit more comfortable with the whole process.

Originally Posted by DocMartin0321

I will probably glass the edge per bluesman's suggestion, and revisit the circle method now that I feel a bit more comfortable with the whole process.

I would say that is a great idea

Originally Posted by DocMartin0321

I only resorted to that method after trying unsuccessfully to achieve a suitably sharp edge using the method demonstrated by Lynn on YouTube. It looked pretty good with my 30x loupe afterward, but my experience is so limited that I don't really know what "good" is. I will probably glass the edge per bluesman's suggestion, and revisit the circle method now that I feel a bit more comfortable with the whole process.

Ahhh, having trouble with Lynn's method, resulted going to more drastic methods in order to see result. I really don't mean to if it sounds Patronizing.

I would say like you mentioned go back and work on those methods prescribed by Lynn. They do work it just takes patience and practice. In the bevel set there can be many factors that come into play if you are not seeing results. For example, not using enough pressure or too much pressure. Or slurry or no slurry. All these can effect results. But the key is time. I've heard of some honers taking a solid hour to get the bevel set. But taking that time makes it all worth it in the end.

So it seems that the culprit may be the bevel. I will redo it tonight and see how it goes. This razor was purchased with honing practice in mind after all.

I really appreciate all of the help everyone!

One thing I can tell you with complete confidence

My De-Fi is close to my heart

Originally Posted by gssixgun

One thing I can tell you with complete confidence

My De-Fi is close to my heart

You know, during my research into the brand I read that you had and liked them. That fact played a big role in my placing a bid on the razor.

I dulled the edge on my bottle of Frank's Red Hot, and started over. It took about 10 rounds of circles and x-strokes to get the edge to reliably pop hair from my arm. This is likely due to the lighter pressure I used this time on the 1K. I got it done though, then went through the 5 micron and 3 micron film, followed by some time on the Imperia with a light slurry, then water (followed by some bare leather stropping). It felt nice and sharp, but wasn't registering on the HHT, so I then stropped it on the nano cloth with CrOx then .125 CBN. Immediately, it was much keener and was probably HHT4. Looking forward to the shave tonight.

The bevel was probably not set, the first time.

Make sure your substrate for your film is flat, glass is not flat. Lap with a diamond plate or 320 grit Wet&Dry. It will also make your film stick to the plate better. Use Aluminum Oxide film.

Learn a foolproof way to set the bevel, looking straight down on the edge with magnification is the easiest, most foolproof way. Any shiny spot reflecting light is a chip or un-set edge, continue honing until, they are ALL gone.

Then spend extra time to remove all the deep 1K stria is removed with the 5um use lite pressure, the other progressions will go quickly.

Most probably your natural stone is going backwards, doubtful that it is 12K and just one partical larger than 1um will scratch the bevel and end in a chip, that will give you a harsh shave. Eliminate unknown variables until you have mastered honing, then experiment with naturals.

Hone on the 1um removing the 3um stria, then add the paper under the 1um and do 10 more weight of the blade laps to finish, just the edge.

Strop on Chrome Oxide and .125 um CBN misted with Distilled water both with very lite pressure.

Too much pressure honing or stropping will cause micro-chipping on the edge and a harsh shave.

Forget the hair test, they are completely unreliable and have nothing to do with how it will shave. It is a parlor trick, a cool one… but, judge your edges by your shaves.


The shiny spot are chips or unset bevel, the red is tape.