Thread: 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.

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.

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.