Thread: Hone of the Day

I have been following this thread.

I decided that if Planeden and Jellyjar were doing the 1k challenge I should too.

I was advised to shave with my 1K edge a while ago but to honest I didn't think it would be worthwhile and always wanted to move on to the next stone.

Planeden's and Jellyjar's experiences have caused me to rethink the whole 1k thing.

I got out my trusty Kinfolks because that's my learnin thing and killed the edge 3 times on the corner of my 1k Naniwa ss. I gave ithe stone a quick 10 laps with my 400 plate just to have a good surface after last time i used it.

I wanted to get as good an edge as possible for obvious reasons.

I painted the edge with a sharpie and did 4 full x- stroke laps. The marker was gone the whole way from both sides, I knew that would happen actually because i have honed this razor a lot.

Anyway, i over honed with 40 x stroke laps very gentle torque to be sure that the bevel was set. This was new to me but i think I saw Joseph do it.

I had one layer of Kapton tape and I had not even nearly burned through it so I am confident that I wasn't using pressure on the spine.

I joined the edge on the corner of the 1K stone and did 6 no pressure x stokes test and 6 more, the edge was cutting arm hair but I wanted to see if it would get better so i did another 6. Now it was a better edge than i had ever achieved with a 1K.

I left the Kapton on and did 40 laps on flax, 30 on herringbone cotton, 40 on English Bridal Leather and 60 on Buffalo (light draw).

I am completely gobsmacked, I'm going to shave this afternoon after my shower and I am excited. If that 1K edge is as good as I think it is i will be very happy.

I want to thank Planeden because if it weren't for this thread I wouldn't have thought to try this challenge.

I have always thought my edges were pretty good and they always shave well but by shaving with 1k I think I am learning the importance of a fully set bevel and a truly sharp 1k edge.
I have been told that I will look back in a few years and laugh at today''s edges.

I think that todays shave will teach me a lot about the importance of a good foundation and my finished edges are almost certainly going to be in a different league, all because of a good bevel.

Whoda thunk it eh?

I wonder if it would be an idea to strop my edge after each stone before moving on. Does anyone actually do that?

Originally Posted by STF

Whoda thunk it eh?

I wonder if it would be an idea to strop my edge after each stone before moving on. Does anyone actually do that?

I think it was in the current learning Jnat thread from Skorpio that Euclid talked about stropping between stone. I have started (trying to remember) to do it. A few on canvas and twice a few on leather. I would like to say it makes a huge difference, but I really don't know if it is true.

I think that the canvas and leather between hones is supposed to produce a straighter edge. But, I don't have the magnification to really see it. But, it adds about 30-60 seconds per stone, so I figure why not.

If you want better edges, get some magnification. A Carson, 60-100 Micro Brite is $10-15.

You cannot improve what you cannot see. Close your eyes and walk across the room! Then run across the room.

Update.

I had my shower and shaved with the 1k edge on my Kinfolks.

I will be completely honest. If that had been my first shave it was uncomfortable enough that i might not have had a second one.

Saying that, I am really happy with my shave, I won't pretend that I'm BBS but I have had a close shave and nobody would think otherwise. I would have to say my shave would be like a Gillette shave if you were a bit pushed for time, but more uncomfortable.
Don't misunderstand, my 1K edge didn't hurt or make me sore (I got skin like a rhino anyway), but it did pull. My second pass was more comfortable and my fourth was quite nice.

I think i am satisfied that I can set a good bevel and it can be shaved with.
What have I learned? I now know how important the bevel is, it one thing being told but quite another to shave with it and prove it to yourself. I also learned to set a much better bevel and to keep on it until it's right.
I think my finished edges are going to take a small step for man and a giant leap for Steve.
Can't wait..

You did a full shave on a 1k edge?! I’ve test shaved a few times off the 1k to see how good a foundation I was making before polishing the bevels and can’t see myself doing much more than a checking the whole edge on my face. The edge itself shouldn’t hurt your just the tugging on the hairs as you pass over them. If you didn’t get any weepers I’d say your edge is really straight. Try it again and see if you can’t get improvement on your last go around. Definitely get some magnification to look at the edge and bevels. You should be able to see what your face is telling you. Much more difficult to learn the other way around, ime but not impossible, it’s how I spent my first year honing razors. Magnification made a huge difference as well as all the awesome work guys have done here with taking photos of bevels and edges and explaining what they see wrong and right with a given edge. It gave me a much better idea of what I should expect to see when things aren’t working. When things all come together it is immediately apparent in the shave.

No weepers, I do have a 60x loupe and a usb microscope so I did check and my edge looked good, no sparklies and my face was the proof of the puddin.

Your idea about doing it again is a good one. I actually wasn't planning on it but it would be interesting to see if i can get it any better, more comfortable at least. It didn't hurt but did pull for sure.

Originally Posted by jfk742

You did a full shave on a 1k edge?!
Try it again and see if you can’t get improvement on your last go around.

I tried again and I don't think I felt too much difference, I think 1K my edge may have felt a bit better but that could simply have been that I new what to expect.
My 1k edge was definitely a shaver, although it would certainly not be my choice of edge.

I finished the razor on 3k 8K and 12K Naniwa's, 20 laps on Crox, 40 on Flax and 60 on English Bridal Leather then 100 0n Buffalo.

I honestly don't think I personally have ever created such a great edge.
I can't try it until tomorrow because I need something to shave off and that last 1k shave yesterday was decent enough that i have nothing worth shaving today!

Originally Posted by STF

I tried again and I don't think I felt too much difference, I think 1K my edge may have felt a bit better but that could simply have been that I new what to expect.
My 1k edge was definitely a shaver, although it would certainly not be my choice of edge.

I finished the razor on 3k 8K and 12K Naniwa's, 20 laps on Crox, 40 on Flax and 60 on English Bridal Leather then 100 0n Buffalo.

I honestly don't think I personally have ever created such a great edge.
I can't try it until tomorrow because I need something to shave off and that last 1k shave yesterday was decent enough that i have nothing worth shaving today!

A quick update..

So, I had a shave yesterday with my finished razor.

That was one sweet shave, learning to set a 1k bevel that shaved well enough that I had nothing to shave the day after was definitely worthwhile and making sure that the prior scratches were replaced every time I moved up the progression and joining the edge before starting on the next stone as well as at least once during each stone gave me the best 12k edge i have ever created. A quick 20 on Crox before the strops, 40 on flax, 60 on English Bridal and 100 on Buffalo gave me an effortless BBS shave. It tree topped, passed the HHT and made me smile so much I almost cut myself, I am so happy.

I have always intended to pay it forward but didn't feel confident that I would send a new guy a shave ready razor.

I am going to hone a couple more to prove to myself that I can make these scary edges consistently, if I can I know that I can pay it forward with a razor that a new guy will benefit from.

Many people scoff at the idea of a 1k stone but it is a very useful tool to learn how to maximise a hone.

The original sharpness is put on the bevel with the 1k. Some say learn to touch up a razor first. I say get a 1k and learn to confirm your bevel is set. Learning to hone is learning the basic of the edge which starts at the bevel. The overwhelming problems new guys have is just that. Anyway sorry for the rant! And I know you all heard this before.