Thread: Progression

How do you know it is time to progress to the next stone?

This may need to be moved to a different category.

Moved to Honing forum.

I use visual aids, ie a loupe at all stages. The physical tests like the TNT are useful at bevel set.

Thank you for moving it. What is TNT and loupe?

TNT is thumbnail test:
Sharpness tests explained - Straight Razor Place Library

A loupe is a magnifier.

Originally Posted by cbarker777

How do you know it is time to progress to the next stone?

This is the hardest thing to convey to someone new because it's very difficult to tell someone what to look for. And even if language didn't fall short in this area, it would most likely not be universally accepted by all of us anyway. There are some general things that people will tell you but it will eventually come down to experience.

That leads me to my next question if I am doing it right when I am done on a 1000 grit stone should it cut. My razor does not even cut.

Originally Posted by cbarker777

That leads me to my next question if I am doing it right when I am done on a 1000 grit stone should it cut. My razor does not even cut.

It should cut hair at skin level at the least.

I started with a eBay buy the blade was in pretty good shape. I cleaned the blade and when doing so I put some very small chips in it I mean very small like cant see but can feel. I started on a 120 grit removed the chips then moved to a 220 for just a few. I then progressed to the 1000 which I thought would give me a blade that would at least cut a paper towel. It won't. I know citing paper with a blade is about the worst thing you can do with it but I knew I was not done so don't see the harm.

Just thinking. If you go to you tube and look up Lynn Abrams and honing. That's what a lot of folks did. Lynn and others show honing step by step and explains different ways of testing your edge. He goes through the progression of different grits. I have always been able to hone knives and axes chain saws but razors was a different animal altogether. I watched his and Ssixguns videos and learned quite a lot. that's been about 2 1/2 years ago and I get a fairly good edge and can shave with these razors I hone with out big old croc. tears . Check them out. I do believe it will help. Some times seeing is better that reading. Just my opinion.