Thread: I can't get consistent with setting the bevel

I find myself with an excess of free time, so I'm practicing honing like a fiend.

I have acquired a number of cheapo older hollow ground razors from eBay in order to practice honing. As far as I can tell none of them have any geometry issues. I also have the two stone set of Norton waterstones: a 220/1000 stone, and a 4000/8000 stone, and a flattening stone for keeping my stones in prime shape. I've flattened both sides of both stones using a pencil grid method and chamfered the edges.

I've gotten all of the razors to a shave ready state at some time or another but only if I manage to set the bevel properly (of course).

The problem I have is that I'm highly inconsistent about setting the bevel. Sometimes I faff and fumble with one razor for two hours on the 1k before throwing it into the corner and walking away in disgust. Sometimes I take the same razor, dull it down and can get a bevel set so it shaves arm hair in 6 minutes.

I'm keeping the method I use the same all the time: 1 layer of tape, X stroke.

Why am I so inconsistent? Should I just practice more? Should I practice less?

Your trying too hard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Every razor is an individual when it comes to honing,,, not every "routine" applies to each razor you come across.
Once you set a bevel & get it to shave ready,,, leave it & just maintain it.
Picking random razors from Ebay to practice on,,, well,, you are asking for a challenge, so you get what you ask for.
Honing is like any skill, it is mastered over time, not in a set amount of time.

Bevel setting varies from razor to razor, with a lot of factors that may only be relevant to that particular razor.

When it gets to be a burden/stressful , put it down for a while, cause all progress has stopped at that point.

Whichever is your weak side is the one that will require more practice on keeping the blade flat and pressure consistent. Which pass is more dominant?
Mike

First off, if that flattening stone is a Norton, it's probably doing you more harm than good. They're great for throwing at wasp nests, not so great at getting a stone truly flat.

Next, add the sharpie test to your routine. Paint the bevel with one of those big chisel-tip sharpies and give the razor a couple of passes up and down the 1K. Then check out the bevel with a magnifier of some kind. This'll tell you most of what you need to know about how the blade is contacting the stone.

Mostly, Don't Hone Mad. Can't stress that enough. If you're feeling frustrated, take a break and come back relaxed. When you're in the proper mental state, the feel of the blade on the stone can speak volumes; if you're tense you're just going to waste steel.

As far as honing mad is concerned, I realized that there is a definite tipping point where it's better to just put everything away and go do some navel gazing or something.

I didn't really try the sharpie test, but I do know that I do have a "better" and an "off" side: I am right handed and usually when i hone towards me, I don't do as well as away when pushing the razor away from me.

The sharpie test - I knew about it, but I didn't really think of using it even semi-consistently. It certainly is a pretty smart suggestion to follow along visually how I'm doing.

Thanks everyone for all of the feedback, and I'm more than interested in taking more if anyone has any contributions!

Did you notice ECL's thread? If your lapper is in fact the Norton lapping hone, then you need to be aware that you need to flatten it.

Let me repeat that.

You need to flatten your flattening hone.

Seriously.

Really, I'm not kidding.

If you find it awkward to hone on either stroke, you could try ever so lightly to put a second 'hand' on the end of the blade, no pressure, just there for balance. Don't tell anyone I said this, ok?

Yep, I noticed it... I'll be heading out to home depot later today to pick up a piece of glass or a floor tile and some sanding paper. I didn't really search the forum yet on how to flatten a flattening stone (sic) but I guess that's the approach that will work...

So silly

Originally Posted by Utopian

Did you notice ECL's thread? If your lapper is in fact the Norton lapping hone, then you need to be aware that you need to flatten it.

Let me repeat that.

You need to flatten your flattening hone.

Seriously.

Really, I'm not kidding.

Originally Posted by WW243

If you find it awkward to hone on either stroke, you could try ever so lightly to put a second 'hand' on the end of the blade, no pressure, just there for balance. Don't tell anyone I said this, ok?

You know, I looked at all the darn honing videos I can find online - but none of them tell you just how much pressure to use. Sometimes I feel like I'll just have to wait till that meetup in Seattle to see how a real honemaster does it in person... till then I think I'm just fumbling... but when it works... oh when it works... <3