Thread: Bevel

How does a new person know when they have properly & completely set the bevel?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Quick answer :
You can shave arm hair with it at all points on the edge.

Better answer:
Go into the library and do some reading and watch some you tube vids on bevel setting.

Best answer:
Find somebody local that can give you some hands on learning. This is worth what ever it takes to accomplish. Will cut dog years off your learning curve.


Thank Spanky for the links :<0)

Thank you both - feltspanky, I had not seen the first video although I have view several of Lynn's offerings. 10pups, after I posted my question I did go to the STP
library and copied important and useful honing teachings for reference when I am trying to get a razor conditioned for comfortable shaving. It's good to have informed
people willing to help.

Looks like your trying and that is great. It's something that takes practice and well,,, more practice. Have you been shaving with a straight or are you diving in head first by fixing your own razor up ?

10pups: I'm as foolish as they come. I have dove in head first with no helmet. My first two razors were bought at a flea market about 45 years ago, a Robeson Shure edge & a
S.R. Droescher Blue Diamond. I also bought an Ashcraft No. 50 pig skin strop (made here in Portland IN) at the same time. I never did anything with them until about 6 weeks
ago. For whatever reason I got a hair up my unit and started watching You tube videos about straight razor shaving. I ordered a Norton 4&8; I already had a Hiram Walker black
Arkansas (12,000) also bought way back when the other things were bought. I started honing and shaving. Against Lynn's advice, I did my whole face instead of one pass down
the cheek and walk away. My Shure Edge pulled and tugged. I kept watching You tube & honing. I'm getting better but, of course still learning & soaking up knowledge, & I love
it. A couple of days ago I shaved with a safety by noon it seemed like I hadn't shaved at all. This morning my shave was close, comfortable with very little pull.
Since beginning this quest I have bought another Shure Edge (round point), a Marke Birko Solingen (stainless) & a J.A. Henckles Friodur inox, 7/8, a monster blade for me.
Plus a Naniwa 12,000 Super Stone & a STD strop. I'm committed & hope to continue leaning & developing skills. I appreciate this forum. Learner (aka Tom Du Jardin).

The 12K is a nice thing but it won't set a bevel; nether will the 8K and the 4K might but it will take forever. Magnification 40x-60x helped me a lot to know what's happening in beveldom and to get it right. But, like 10Pups said, nothing beats being taught by someone with experience. I learned way more at a weekend meet from Lynn, randydance and Utopian than I had figured out in a year on my own (plus videos).

Actually, yes they will… A 4K can easily set a bevel on a razor that has been properly honed previously, as will a 12k, it is a pretty aggressive stone.

Do tape the spine until you learn to hone, then decide if you want to continue to tape. The forum is filled with new honers who have honed “for hours” on low grit stones trying to set a bevel and ruining good razors.

Ink the bevel to see where you are making contact and use good magnification to see your progress frequently. A good 60X lighted loupe can be purchased for 2-3 dollars on line.

Here is a thread on setting a bevel with a 12K in 206 laps in about 20 minutes. While it is not something I recommend to a novice honer, it is a testament to the aggressiveness of synthetic stones.

Simply look at the edge with magnification to see when the bevel is set, no shinny reflections and to inspect for flat bevel and chip free edge.
Here is a good video on inspecting the edge. Straight Razor Sharp Test.


Here.

Are there any pakki razors good enough to practice bevel setting without taping? Note note trying to shave with them just hone practice at a very cheap price.

mistermoo: I use the 12,000 for polishing out the striations from the 8,000 I mentioned earlier in my post. I have a stone that is roughly a 1,000 grit that I use
to set the bevel. I did also buy a 60x pocket, led lighted microscope. It is a great aid. I have also tried 3M 1,000 grit wet or dry sandpaper on 1/4 plate glass with
good success. I would love to have the luxury of attending a class offered by the accomplished honing teachers but am not aware of such; I know that would help
greatly. Thanks for the input.