Thread: Hone of the Day

Originally Posted by bobski

Thanks Mike,
I've got the magnification available to have a look, and I will. But, I went through a stage a while back where I was looking at everything under 200x etc and adjusting this and that based on what my scope was telling me. Result ended up with a multitude of differing techniques and I started shaving based on what the scope was telling me. I shared this problem and some mighty eminent honers out there told me to go back to the loupe and hone for my skin and whiskers rather than the scope. Ever since I've gotten back to normal. This latest bit of good honing/shaving might have arrived sans planning, but I've arrived somehow at an edge on four different razors, using the same stone and method that rivals, equals the results you can get from a Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. That's no mean feat! I'm not sure I want to find out any thing that might lead me to tinker with it....lol
So, at the risk of admitting a degree of luck, I'll look at it under my scopes, but I have to say I'm not going to touch the four razors I mentioned, it's a case for me of look but don't touch. Thanks, Bob.

Understood Bob, magnification is another tool that should help reduce variables not increase them. Using 200X mag makes it difficult to move the entire edge (both sides) under the scope, which is why I said 100X. When I started honing razors I did not use magnification and had a difficult time getting consistent results.
It was only after I forced myself to start using the scope at each stage of the progression did I learn what was occuring between steel and stone. With the added time involved in observing each stage of the process, I am not surprised most would abandon this appraoch. Youv'e done good, luck has nothing to do with it. The trick is to find out why and repeat it sir.
MIke

What you say makes great sense Mike. I will certainly look at my edges to see how I arrived at shave readiness. The one thing that was common to all these was the bevel had been set some time ago. I was looking to get the best out of my natural stones. And of those this Shobu just is my sweet spot. Cheers Bob.

Finally got round to honing the fbu I brought myself for my birthday. Went Chosera 1k, Naniwa ss 3, 5, 8 and 12. Was off the buffer so full bevel set from nothing. Once the bevel was done honed up well. Went well and didn't loose any of the blade width. Just over 7/8 at the heel quickly going to 8/8 and out to 17/16 at the widest.

Shave test today was fantastic and can now see the appeal of these big heavy blades. The nice big smile really got all the spots on my neck and was one of the easiest shaves I have had.

Originally Posted by eddy79

Finally got round to honing the fbu I brought myself for my birthday. Went Chosera 1k, Naniwa ss 3, 5, 8 and 12. Was off the buffer so full bevel set from nothing. Once the bevel was done honed up well. Went well and didn't loose any of the blade width. Just over 7/8 at the heel quickly going to 8/8 and out to 17/16 at the widest.

Shave test today was fantastic and can now see the appeal of these big heavy blades. The nice big smile really got all the spots on my neck and was one of the easiest shaves I have had.

I honed mine not too long ago also. It was in SOTD a few days ago and it was a great shave like you experienced.

Ed, nice work. I too love the bigger heavier blades, I've got 3 Hart steel 7/8, 4 TI. 7/8, aFriodur 7/8, a Dorko 17/16, and I have two Brandonisio & bros 7/8. Love em. Of the ten five are finished on the Suehiro 20k and the remainder on either the Shobu or the Ozuku. Love em lots mate.

Tonight’s hone,

Sta-sharp chromized steel 5/8
Norton 1k 4/8k
Lynn idawl for finishing

Nice start to the week 10 in for Tuesday including this very nice TI 7 day set with hunting scene inlays.