Honing questions

[Hthomas]

I've only been honing for about 6 month and am able to get a good edge pretty consistently (still learning wedges).
After my 8k norton, my edges can pop arm hairs a 1/4" above my arm. However after taking that same edge to my 12k Shapton stone, it will no longer consistently pop hairs above my arm.
I that the 12k edges shave is a little less harsh but not much differance. I get great shaves even when I don't use the 12k.

Am I doing something wrong?

[RezDog]

I am not going to be of much help because I have the same problem with my Sigma 13K. In the end I decided to move on with a different hone and it is just fine that way. I have a friend that uses the same hone, we have honed together, his edges are nice and mine are not. I have no way of explaining it. I do think that a shapton users will be able to explain it. They are pretty common,

[Euclid440]

Had a similar problem, with my 20K SG when. I had lapped it but it was leaving a rough edge and stria pattern.

I re-gridded the stone and took one lap with a worn 600 plate and saw a slight 1X1.5 in depression in the middle and center of the hone.
I re-lapped it, several times, removing a bit of the face, and it is a hard stone… and that solved the problem.

Take another look at your stone. Grid it and take one lap on a high grit plate or wet & dry. If you have a depression as the stone wears the un-lapped portion comes to the surface.

Or it could just be a pressure issue…

[gfro]

can you tell me about the smoothness difference of your shave coming off of 8k vs. 12k.
I have the same situation and I'm trying to see the final outcome which is the face and not the arm hair.

[Euclid440]

You can get a smooth shave from an 8K, I did for years. But the 12K is much smoother, much like an 8K with lots of Chrome Oxide laps on it.
I use a 12K Super Stone so I can’t comment on the Shapton.

It is a noticeable difference.

[Hthomas]

Take another look at your stone. Grid it and take one lap on a high grit plate or wet & dry.

Or it could just be a pressure issue…

I grid and lapped it before honing.

can you tell me about the smoothness difference of your shave coming off of 8k vs. 12k.

I get great shaves off of each the 8k and when I contune to the 12k.
The 8k edge is more harsh and maybe a little closer.
12k is smother and just fine. It just doesn't pop arm hairs.
My arm hairs are long and soft compared to my facial hair, so all n all I'm not sure it's really all that important. I just thought a 12k edge would be even sharper and more refined than the 8k.
I dont think I should stop popping arm hair 1/4" above the arm. Shaves arm hair at the base wickedly.

[gssixgun]

With some hones it happens that way

As the edge gets more refined and "Smoother" sometimes the tests don't work the same

I have a similar problem with the Naniwa SS series it took some getting used to

My 1k tests work the same as every other hone but as I go from 3-5-8-10 the tests no longer work like what I am used to, once I hit the 12 and do a shave test all if fine so I just roll through now when I use them..

I haven't used a Shapton 12k except at a couple of the meets so I can't say for sure this is the same issue, but if the shave test is good after you are done, it might well be...

[onimaru55]

I've only been honing for about 6 month and am able to get a good edge pretty consistently (still learning wedges).
After my 8k norton, my edges can pop arm hairs a 1/4" above my arm. However after taking that same edge to my 12k Shapton stone, it will no longer consistently pop hairs above my arm.
I that the 12k edges shave is a little less harsh but not much differance. I get great shaves even when I don't use the 12k.

Am I doing something wrong?

I don't have a Norton but anything my 8k Pro does the 12k does better. I suggest there is something amiss here.
After checking the flatness as advised, check that the edge is actually being polished by the 12 k.
A light touch will see the edge brightening before the shoulder of the bevel. You will need a loupe to see this.

[Hthomas]

Re lapped the hones. Now one lap around the wet / dry and all the pencil marks are gone.
I honed two Robeson razors and one is amazing. Treetops and one doesn't. I got a close smooth shave the one razor tonight.
I sure it's just a new stone I need to get used to.
I'm going to meet up with Ken Rupkalvis, my SATx mentore, latter this week. What a great guy. An ex high school teacher and makes some great strops.
Thank you guys for the wonderful help and fabulous shave tonight.
You guys are the best

[tcrideshd]

If it shaves well I don't care if it tree tops my arm hair , maybe worrying about the stuff that you can't change , I get the same results too and my blades are honed by a pretty good fellow. I don't know why but the ones that don't tree top my arm hair really give me a smooth shave. Tc