Thread: Can't set the bevel.

First off what kind of razor is it?
If it is a Gold Dollar you will have problems setting the bevel.

Second Do NOT use a DMT to set the bevel... This can result in micro chipping....

Third, Honing is an art... I know it's not rocket science or anything but there is a learning curve.


A wise man (-gssixgun) said something like this: "Honing isn't difficult, until it IS...." THIS IS SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Steel

Wow. You got a lot going on. Just a suggestion- maybe you would do better taking your pro honed razors and touch them up first before you jump into a full bevel set. I mean, natural stones are tough enough and then throw in what seems like a one stone hone on a coti. That there is a pretty tough challenge. Just a thought. Some like the punishment of doing things the hard way. I know I do

You're telling me! Ha! Hey, sometimes keeping it simple is bliss. Like Granda said, life is just one good meal after another. Gotta roll with the punches.

The good news, I had fun honing. Law School is crazy. Sometimes the only thing that will get me out of my head from Constitutional Law is honing. Seriously. I love both. At least I'm pretty savvy at one of them. Can't win em all I figure. At least I got the Zen. If I can get shave ready, man, I'm looking at a serous past time here. I might have to stick a hone in my pocket!

I am in the camp of saving your money and use the hones you currently have.

What you need to do is set the bevel on the 1k King. This will be much easier at your current level then the Coti. For those new to bevel setting ifind the easiest test that it is set if it will cut leg or arm hair at skin level all along the edge. Once you have the edge doing that. Do the TNT so you can feel what that feels like. Then do 10 more strokes on the king. Then you can do tpt to see how that feels. Once you have done that for all the test you want to do you move on to the Coti.

For the Coti just use plain water no slurry and do 25 laps test tpt does it feel sharper. Will it cut arm hair above skin level. If not do 25 more and retest. Keep doing that till you get the results you want. Then strop and shave test.

Another option if you have other eBay razors around is to send one out and ask the honer only to set the bevel. Then when you get it back you can try to test to see how they work. The work your way up to a shave edge on your Coti.

Originally Posted by Castel33

I am in the camp of saving your money and use the hones you currently have.

What you need to do is set the bevel on the 1k King. This will be much easier at your current level then the Coti. For those new to bevel setting ifind the easiest test that it is set if it will cut leg or arm hair at skin level all along the edge. Once you have the edge doing that. Do the TNT so you can feel what that feels like. Then do 10 more strokes on the king. Then you can do tpt to see how that feels. Once you have done that for all the test you want to do you move on to the Coti.

For the Coti just use plain water no slurry and do 25 laps test tpt does it feel sharper. Will it cut arm hair above skin level. If not do 25 more and retest. Keep doing that till you get the results you want. Then strop and shave test.

Another option if you have other eBay razors around is to send one out and ask the honer only to set the bevel. Then when you get it back you can try to test to see how they work. The work your way up to a shave edge on your Coti.

UPDATE: The edge is much better!

I still can't seem to get any hht past a violin on the coticule, but the bevel was set. I guess I just thought with the Thumb Pad Test it needed to feel sticky the way it does now? But it shaved arm hairs off the King 1K. I used MUCH less pressure, and it felt more appropriate not to g crazy on it.

The Coti is the next challenge. I have a good feeling I'm actually doing it right. The edge I produced is a lot like one I did a while ago—I think I just need more keen. I can't seem to max out the coti. That's where the Norton 4/8 idea came in. But, tomorrow's another day gents.

I practice honing on some worn out old straights every night usually 1-5 hours, if not that, I work on stropping for at least an hour, practice has improved my honing leaps and bounds but, stropping is SO key to getting the edge where you Need it to be. Best of practice to you.

Glad to hear you are sorting things out. As for your Coti and the like, dare I suggest skimming through this ol' thread:

The 1K shave

Regards

Christian

Dude, post some pictures of the razor.

The king 1k is just fine, as is the Norton 4/8k, but neither will hone a worthless razor.

I use a DMT 1200 to set bevels. I've stopped using the DMT 8000, now I go to the Naniwa SS 8000, then 12000. I'd like to add something in-between so I could spend less time removing the DMT's scratches with the 8000. Anyway, the DMT cuts fast. I would only use light pressure. I also always use water on the DMT. You should be able to get the blade very sharp off the 1200, so that you're honing, not sharpening, on your coti. A loupe is a great tool to see what you're doing. As others have said, taping the spine is wise. I wouldn't say the DMT is the ideal stone for razors, but for me, my money has been better spent on the finishing stones and the DMT will work.

Originally Posted by thunderbird47

I use a DMT 1200 to set bevels. I've stopped using the DMT 8000, now I go to the Naniwa SS 8000, then 12000. I'd like to add something in-between so I could spend less time removing the DMT's scratches with the 8000. Anyway, the DMT cuts fast. I would only use light pressure. I also always use water on the DMT. You should be able to get the blade very sharp off the 1200, so that you're honing, not sharpening, on your coti. A loupe is a great tool to see what you're doing. As others have said, taping the spine is wise. I wouldn't say the DMT is the ideal stone for razors, but for me, my money has been better spent on the finishing stones and the DMT will work.

Well, he already has possession of a King 1K hone, that's why I suggested using that instead. I'm a big proponent of working with what you've got, and any ~1K hone is better than no 1K. It isn't that a diamond hone won't/can't work. But if you already have an acceptable 1K bevel setter that won't leave deep scratches like a diamond hone, there's no reason not to use that instead. And it isn't like the 1200 would just collect dust. I'm sure it's great for resto work, kitchen knives, and working up slurry. I'm sure he'll get bitten by the coticule bug again, naturals can be quite addicting.

Originally Posted by thunderbird47

I use a DMT 1200 to set bevels. I've stopped using the DMT 8000, now I go to the Naniwa SS 8000, then 12000. I'd like to add something in-between so I could spend less time removing the DMT's scratches with the 8000. Anyway, the DMT cuts fast. I would only use light pressure. I also always use water on the DMT. You should be able to get the blade very sharp off the 1200, so that you're honing, not sharpening, on your coti. A loupe is a great tool to see what you're doing. As others have said, taping the spine is wise. I wouldn't say the DMT is the ideal stone for razors, but for me, my money has been better spent on the finishing stones and the DMT will work.

DMT 1200 to Naniwa 8k? That's gotta suck. If you're looking for something in between I'd go Naniwa 3k or 5k. 3k would be better coming from the DMT.