Thread: Mid-range tips

Originally Posted by onimaru55

All because you bumped the thread on the 2nd post

I'm glad you like that.. I myself thought it was quite hilarious.

Meanwhile today I had a little revelation... More like a big revelation. Maybe I should revisit some of my bevels! I am not going to lie I read some stuff today that made me think maybe I haven't been spending enough time on my bevels... I then read through the 1k shave thread and am going to try it with my king 1k..

Euclid said the bevel should be popping hairs off 1k and passing the tnt. My edges haven't ever popped hairs above skin off 1k but the tnt felt alright...

Mid range tip of the day. If going forward isn't working don't be afraid to look back.

It was a head shaking moment for me...

So after re reading the great tips given here I have to ask, when should I be moving on from 4k? It seems the consensus is when the 1k striations on the bevel are removed. After almost 100 strokes on my 4k there was still 1k striations present.. should I keep on keeping on? Or is there something else amok here..


How much of the stria should remain?

It should be shallower looking. More important "How does it feel"??
Because you said stria still remain, I will take that to indicate that you are only doing x strokes on a 4K synthetic ... Correct?

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

It should be shallower looking. More important "How does it feel"??
Because you said stria still remain, I will take that to indicate that you are only doing x strokes on a 4K synthetic ... Correct?

To be honest the edge felt like a torn in half pop can. It it felt as if it was duller then the 1k. And yes the 1k stria were still present, or maybe I was looking at the 4k stria. Not too certain I am not experienced with all this stria removal, loupe checking.

I generally only do x strokes but sometimes do a half lap "Japanese style" stroke. Not a big circle guy.

So going by feel only, you should be feeling a 1K edge but less rough/thick/harsh edge. Not shaveable by any means. Lets say you did it correctly.
Stop and look at the stria now.
Now move to your next stone.
After 50 strokes look at it again.
Stria should be shallower looking. More important edge should feel keener.
What stones are you using?? This is an important question as to how stria will appear. Cotis and circles strokes obliterate stria quickly.
Synthetics and x strokes only will result in shallower stria and/or a shiner edge than you had.
Lastly check your tape for wear, and inspect to make sure that you only have a single bevel.
I find that being under an overhead light and the loupe I see better. Best is a lighted loupe

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

So going by feel only, you should be feeling a 1K edge but less rough/thick/harsh edge. Not shaveable by any means. Lets say you did it correctly.
Stop and look at the stria now.
Now move to your next stone.
After 50 strokes look at it again.
Stria should be shallower looking. More important edge should feel keener.
What stones are you using?? This is an important question as to how stria will appear. Cotis and circles strokes obliterate stria quickly.
Synthetics and x strokes only will result in shallower stria and/or a shiner edge than you had.
Lastly check your tape for wear, and inspect to make sure that you only have a single bevel.
I find that being under an overhead light and the loupe I see better. Best is a lighted loupe

Naniwas I'm using. I'll have to mess around with the water stones when I get home and find some time. With school I've got my hands full, especially mid terms coming up.

Alright go up in grit to your 8K naniwa. Give me fifty x strokes and feel the edge and tell me what the stria looks like.
I hate midterms. At least if you do well on them and have done well up to this point, you can do anything for 8 weeks. Semester done keep steppin.

I will have to hone a razor back up to the 4k, then I will try going to the 8k. That razor I brought with me on my trip and it didn't shave well (at all) so I had to improvise an edge on it with my trusty barber hone method.. If nothing else it's consistent for me and the resulting edges are very nice. But obviously not ideal to hone razors which is why I'm looking to learn the normal progressions people use.

I'm going to dull the edge and re hone starting at 4k with light pressure until that feels good and tpt feels good, then do 10 x strokes weight of the blade. I will then strop and shave.. I will document what I feel and experience,

The way I see it, I got a comfortable shave off a 1k, that comfort should be much higher if done right on a 4k.

As long as I can cleanly shave arm hair at the base I'm doing good at 4k?

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

Alright go up in grit to your 8K naniwa. Give me fifty x strokes and feel the edge and tell me what the stria looks like.
I hate midterms. At least if you do well on them and have done well up to this point, you can do anything for 8 weeks. Semester done keep steppin.

Lightly kill the edge. 4K is NOT for bevel setting. But you have made some rather different methods work.
If you havent killed the edge yet dont. Move up to the next hone. Please

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

Lightly kill the edge. 4K is NOT for bevel setting. But you have made some rather different methods work.
If you havent killed the edge yet dont. Move up to the next hone. Please

The particular edge has been killed and re-honed using the BH method and is currently shaving very well. Not optimal but well. The edge is barber hone level. Are you suggesting going from this to an 8k?

Wouldn't this cause a burr on the edge? I'm not certain and maybe I've been reading through too many 2008 threads but isn't an 8k prone to over honing ?

I won't be killing the edge then. Thanks before I did something that wastes more steel.