Thread: Advice needed

Originally Posted by DMA

I've got Naniwa stones, 5K 10K and have just spent a while watching Lynn Abrams circle technique and trying to follow to the letter what he does. It has made a huge difference to the edge and will be testing the SR out after I've given it a good stopping, I'm a bit nervous of putting it to my face, but I've got to learn to hone as I'm geographically isolated in Singapore.
Just ordered a Shapton Glass set from SRD, any particular tips on using these, how do they differ from Naniwa etc.
Thanks guys.

Shapton Glass stones is what I have (1k, 2k, 4K, 8k, 16k, 30k). This set is a good choice. Others may comment on types of stones. Be sure to watch Lynn's vid using the Shaptons and this link too.

http://youtu.be/1z1voZKvGW8

Yea…

Don’t do that… guaranteed, that technique will not work for you.

It is an advanced technique, attempting to duplicate what he is doing, you will use too much pressure and do way too many laps.

You only need to touch up your razor and the Naniwas you have, are plenty to accomplish that. Learning to strop is more important to daily maintenance.

I guess you didn't read the part where he said he just ordered a set of Shaptons glass. Unless this guy is 10 years old or bipolar, he'll figure it out. Howard's YouTube vid helped me much at the beginning, as I continue to learn.

I guess you missed the part, where he said he just got a new razor in a box from the factory, And his join date is September 2015.

If you read a few of these post, where new guys are asking for help, you quickly see… they will try anything. Then they watch videos like that and think, well that’s how it’s done, because then you don’t have to strop your razor. Clearly he felt, he did not have enough stone to do the job, so more is, more better.

That video, I am sure has caused more issues that it solved. I really don t see where that video can help any new guy.

Glad it worked out for you…

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I guess you missed the part, where he said he just got a new razor in a box from the factory, And his join date is September 2015.

If you read a few of these post, where new guys are asking for help, you quickly see… they will try anything. Then they watch videos like that and think, well that’s how it’s done, because then you don’t have to strop your razor. Clearly he felt, he did not have enough stone to do the job, so more is, more better.

That video, I am sure has caused more issues that it solved. I really don t see where that video can help any new guy.

Glad it worked out for you…

I tried to follow that video many times. Lynn makes it look easy but it relies heavily on correct pressure at different times during the process... I failed hard... Many times and I'm a year in to my honing journey...

More stones isn't the answer either. I went that route. I can't get a razor to shave off these... I'll try those and so a cycle of disappointment ensues all because the time wasn't taken to learn what you had..

A brand new set of stones won't make you a better honer, practice will.

Ask Mr. Glen about that.

OP don't be afraid to mail things out for honing when you can't do it yourself. No shame in that... unless Singapore doesn't allow mail... Which is highly unlikely. There is no such thing as geographically isolated in this day in age..

Yea that's it throw more money at it, ,and it doesn't matter how old he is everyone is different , maybe everyone 10 years old cab drive a truck too. Tc

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I guess you missed the part, where he said he just got a new razor in a box from the factory, And his join date is September 2015.

If you read a few of these post, where new guys are asking for help, you quickly see… they will try anything. Then they watch videos like that and think, well that’s how it’s done, because then you don’t have to strop your razor. Clearly he felt, he did not have enough stone to do the job, so more is, more better.

That video, I am sure has caused more issues that it solved. I really don t see where that video can help any new guy.

Glad it worked out for you…

Not to belabor the point, I guess you missed my first post in this thread where I advised patience and growth in knowledge. The Op shifted subject by noting he purchased the Shapton set. My comments were directed to that shift.

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

Howard's YouTube vid helped me much at the beginning, as I continue to learn.

Not to belabor a point, but I just watched Howard's video for 45 minutes or so, and while I'd bet he gets a great edge, but I'd also bet that not many people can replicate that technique or equipment....multiple magnifying glasses, vibration free tables from science labs, etc., etc. successfully. Therefore, IMO, the video is useless to the Most people who are new to honing, even if they have Shapton stones.

It made me sick, almost physically, to imagine what I could do to my razors with his technique WITHOUT his skill, knowledge, and feel....giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Go to 30 k, run the edge along the corner of the stone, and then do 4 more laps?!?

Sorry..not what I'd do if I were the OP in Singapore, and when I hosed it up couldn't send it to a person on here to straighten it out?!? Nor is it what I'm going to do now, when I can.

I'm a little late to the party here, but Dovo edges from the factory are not necessarily all that far off. All it may take is a visit to a ferox or chrox-lined strop instead of hitting the stones. The shave test being the final arbiter, the HHT can help a lot with the razor out of the factory box and after the pasted strop.

OP here.
I'm 61, just retired and I read earlier that it was a good idea to get many stones and learn to use them and then come up with the system that suited me best.
I'm in the learning phase at the moment, and it takes 2 to 3 weeks for post to arrive here, so by sending stuff off I'm looking at a minimum turn around time of 4 weeks, which is too long for me, hence my desire to learn the at of honing. I always work on the basis that trial and error with advice from others is the best way to learn.
Incidentally I am using a TI that came shave ready, and with regular stropping, albeit slowly, I'm getting good shaves. I have already learnt one valuable lesson, that less than excellent blades will cause nicks and razor burn.
So while I work on the Dovo I've got a great razor to shave with and I will, with time and patience, get to the point where I can confidently hone all my razors to achieve great results.
I'm not expecting to find that throwing money at shaving will mysteriously give me better shaves, what I am doing is looking to give myself the best opportunity to try to learn different techniques and gain more knowledge.
All the master honers had to start somewhere and weren't blessed with instant results from their first attempts, they just kept persevering and learning from their mistakes over time, to become the master of their art.
So guys all advice, thoughts and input will be greatly appreciated as I'm sure that will help me avoid the more basic errors.