First Hone Job--Success

A friend sent me a razor to practice honing with. I have a set of Naniwa Super Stones, 1000, 5000, 8000 and 12000.

Started with the 1000 and was having some problems setting the bevel so took a break and came back the next day and within about ten minutes the bevel felt pretty good. Took another break to get some cherry tomatoes and from what I good tell, with limited my knowledge, it passed the cherry tomatoe test and so I progressed through the stones finishing on the 12000.

Shave tested it the next day and it was pretty good but not great. Went back and did some more work with the 8000 and the 12000 and then twenty laps on fabric and about a hundred laps on the leather.

Took out my Aust and this practice razor to shave with today. After one cheek with the practice razor, I put the Aust away and continued with my practice razor. It cut wonderfully and with great comfort. I do not think that I have ever been able to do my chin so easily and with only two passes.

Not all BBS but many areas of BBS and the rest DFS.

Had my wife feel and inspect and she could also notice a better shave than normal. In my view, I have been getting very good shaves lately and so this is just another step up the ladder for me.

I am dedicated to this new hobby of mine and am just in my third month with a straight razor.

Feeling very good about all aspects at this time. Now to dull the practice razor and see if I can duplicate the results.

With the help of all here I have learned a lot but understand that my knowledge base is still quite low and that I have much to learn still.

Thanks Frank.

It's good to hit the first benchmark. There is more learning to come but the first step can be a doosey.

Congrats on the progress! One of the only things I have found to be more satisfying at a fundamental level than straight shaving to begin with, is straight shaving with a blade that you yourself brought to life! Honing becomes very enjoyable and highly addicting quickly...I know I find myself chomping at the bit for one of my razors to need a refresh (sadly, due to this new hobby, all of the ones that needed a refresh or an end-to-end honing got one).

One thing to note...keep working on blades that have good geometry so you can dial in the fundamentals. I found myself incredibly frustrated with a couple of razors that had issues and it delayed a bit of learning for me. I still have a lot to learn and look forward to the day I can bring those razors back.

Good luck and happy shaving!

oh ya....listen to RezDog....good advice to be found there for sure!

I'm very jealous. I just can't seem to get my cattargus sharp. I hone and hone but it just will not shave.

Congratulations, that is a very satisfying feeling :)

Congratulations on your success. You have only been enjoying this hobby for a short period of time an you have made tremendous strides. Well Done

Congratulations - just started this path myself.

I find that once the bevel is set, I can relax a bit, unclench various muscles that I'm sitting on, and then take my time up the progression. Had some success with the more hollow grinds, crashed and burned on a De Pews wedge though. It's a love/hate thing, great to do it, great to shave with it, but the terror of bevel setting and getting it right can be frustrating.

You have another blade lined up for your next try?

Great, I guess you'll be doing your own honing from now on. Before long you'll be one of the ones giving newbies advice on honing. Sounds like you have a nice set of stones for honing too. I wish I had a setup like that.
I've gotten mine sharp enough to shave with (I think), but unfortunately I don't have anything to compare to.

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Originally Posted by Dfiorilli

I'm very jealous. I just can't seem to get my cattargus sharp. I hone and hone but it just will not shave.

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I recommend getting yourself a 30 power jewelers loupe. Use it to see if you've got the bevel set at the 1000k level. Once that is accomplished, the rest is fairly easy.

I do plan on ordering a loupe, I have just a 3x for some gunsmithing work and it is pretty worthless for looking at a bevel. I've read some recommendations for a 30x and some for a 60x. Any thoughts on one or the other.

I really like the lighted loupes on the bay. There very inexpensive and I would recommend purchasing two or three with your initial order. The replacement batteries are almost more expensive than the loupes.

I ordered 2 lighted 40x loupes off of e-bay, $7.50 total and free shipping. Even if they are no good, I'm not really out anything. I'll see what they are like and go from there. Being a tool geek, I really prefer to buy something that is made with a high degree of quality and will last forever.

Just received two more Naniwa stone holders, so I now have one for each stone. I keep going to the Gerstner web site looking at their oak tool boxes as I am certain I need one for my razor stuff. Already have two for my 1911 tools, etc. That will go over well with the wife, not.

Probably will also need another bench in my reloading/gunsmithing room for razor work.

You guys are a bad influence on me.

Pipeguy, Bravo!

If your join date indicates how recently you've taken up the straight, you're way ahead of most.

'Done right:
Have a known good test edge to compare your honing to (the Aust).
Set it down & leave it alone when its not giving the desired results. This is huge.
You started w/ synthetics - they'll do all blades, rather than the seduction of the naturals to start with.
You're noticing/paying attention to the incremental improvements (not all bbs, but...).

To other new shavers - this is not very typical. 'Happens, but not that often. If it takes you longer to get these results - you're like the rest of us.

Bravo Pipeguy

Amen to that. Two years in and I haven't had that honing success yet. Close, but no cigar. I look forward to hitting that same milestone. Congrats!

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Originally Posted by pinklather

Pipeguy, Bravo!

If your join date indicates how recently you've taken up the straight, you're way ahead of most.

'Done right:
Have a known good test edge to compare your honing to (the Aust).
Set it down & leave it alone when its not giving the desired results. This is huge.
You started w/ synthetics - they'll do all blades, rather than the seduction of the naturals to start with.
You're noticing/paying attention to the incremental improvements (not all bbs, but...).

To other new shavers - this is not very typical. 'Happens, but not that often. If it takes you longer to get these results - you're like the rest of us.

Bravo Pipeguy

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Congrats apipeguy, nice work on the first hone to shave. I recon you should maybe not blunt it and shave with it for a while, this would allow you to see if you have a false edge. This happens when the bevel is not set properly but your finisher gets the edge to where it can shave for one or two shaves and then dies. This way you will know if you have worked on your 1K enough, not a criticism just a FYI check that I go through.

Good glad to see you are making progress. While the tomato will tell you if you have an edge, that is only one aspect of a set bevel.
When we “set a bevel” we do 3 things, 1. Flatten the bevels, 2. Create the proper angle, (edge and bevel in line with the spine) and 3. Bring the bevels to meet in a sharp, straight, chip free edge.

The tomato will only tell you about one of those things, if it is sharp enough to cut tomato skin. A simple look through a 3 dollar lighted loupe will tell you all you need to know about the bevel set, in a few seconds and what if anything else, needs to be done.

Once the bevel is set, the rest is just polishing to get a straighter, more comfortable edge. So while the tomato test will tell you if the edge is sharp, you are flying blind on the rest.

That you are getting good shaves, says more than the tomato test, make your technique absolutely repeatable. You don’t need to spend a lot to get decent magnification, do get lighted magnification, 3-15 dollars is plenty. It is often cheaper to buy multiple inexpensive lighted loupes than replacing batteries, some hand held magnification eat batteries.

I like the 60x lighted loupe for 2-3 dollars and the Carson 60-100 lighted scope, 10-15 dollars.

I have shaved with the practice razor a couple times and will again today. So far the edge is holding up well. The two lighted loupes that I ordered should arrive today or tomorrow and I will be excited to try those. My 3x gunsmithing loupe was just not enough.

Today is my day off and I have a little yard work to do this morning but am hoping to get a little time in on the stones this afternoon.

Starting to enjoy the honing aspect as much as shaving. My first straight shave was 2-20-15, who would have thought that from something that I dreaded to do, a great new hobby and source of satisfaction would develop.

I have a bit of gunsmithing work to do that has kind of been just sitting on my bench waiting for me to get to it. I need to retire, again, so I have time for my hobbies.

Here is a good video on checking an edge for bevel set.

Here.

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Originally Posted by feltspanky

I really like the lighted loupes on the bay. There very inexpensive and I would recommend purchasing two or three with your initial order. The replacement batteries are almost more expensive than the loupes.

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The batteries can actually be had for less money than most people think. $6 for 6 batteries. One simply need know where to look. Like at an "Adult Marital Aides" store... probably has to do with the sheer volume of sales of the specific sizes they carry.

Note: must be 18, or older.

I checked the site for one of the local chains, and the price was the same. Shipping, however, was like $5-7 to start for orders under $59. Then the shipping would be free.

Not affiliated, or sponsoring anything. If you would like further info, pm me. Due to content, I won't even mention the store name in open forum.

I'm also willing to delete this post if it is considered inappropriate. :chapeau

I shudder to ask, but, what the heck is a cherry tomato test???

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Originally Posted by Utopian

I shudder to ask, but, what the heck is a cherry tomato test???

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They use that test on B&B..waste of a tomato I say. I don't know exactly but I assume if it cuts the tomato skin with ease its a set bevel. That's what I heard...

Great way to put a patina on your edge :roflmao