First Second and Third Tries
I ordered a set of Norton stones last week and they arrived today. True to my nature I cant just let them sit there. I have to give them a go. I have been sweating this for months (ever since I bought my first razor). I even bought a couple extra razors to prolong the need to hone. So anyway, 5 months of sweat, reading posts watching videos and the day is here. I start with the cheap GD razor I bought just for this. I intentionally dulled the edge to take it from start to finish. I soaked and lapped the stones, and even made up a spritz bottle wile I was at it. Then I began.
The GD was challenging, it really didn't want to take an edge. It took a good while to get the bevel set on the 1000 but once that was done the edge progressed fast. All in all from 1000-8000 took about 45 minutes with most of being my own lack of confidence. I brought it to where I thought the edge was as good as I was going to get it and then I stropped with a .5 chromium oxide and finished with leather. I shaved with it and it felt as good as it ever did (it is a GD after all).
I tackled my Double Duck next. It was an ebay purchase and although it would cut hair I wouldn't say it shaved. This blade took to an edge like a duck to water. I started with the 1000 so I would know where the bevel was. It didn't take long at all, 20 passes tops. From there to hair popping and shaving was as easy as 10-15 passes on the 4000, 5 passes on 8000 then a quick chrom strop a little leather and its shaving nice.
My Boker was last. This one I bought new and professionally honed. The shop I bought it from said it was taped when originally honed and so I did the same. I taped the spine and made 4 or 5 passes on the 8000 to refresh the edge and then stropped like the others. It is now shaving as nice as the day I received it. All In all I can't complain. I do think I will pick up a 12K stone later but this is working very well for now.
It really was that easy. I would like to take credit for some of the success but in truth it was all of you. The information and the videos on here really made things easy. Thanks to you all
