Questions?? My 1st eBay razor from dull to shave ready?

[Grayelk]

I bought my first cheap eBay razor, which was a "West Point #7" made in Mereppenhagen, Germany. It is a 6/8 no frills round nose blade. The edge was pretty straight, but it wouldn't shave hair. After watching multitudes of videos and reading the threads on this forum (thanks to all) I set the bevel on a Naniwa 1K. Afterward, it would easily pass the TNT and shave hair at the base on the entire edge. I also checked for light reflections by looking down on the edge. It was apparent to me that the bevel was set even though it wasn't exactly straight from tip to heel, but I thought it may be close enough. Then I went to the 5K Naniwa; did 15 half-strokes on each side and 20 circles followed by 20 X strokes. Then I went to Lynn's pyramid scheme using the one he recommends for "Used but good edge" razors. This scheme starts with 15 strokes rather than 25. I followed this progression until the end on the 5K and 8K Naniwas. After completion, it wouldn't pop hairs midway. I then went back to the pyramid and started in the middle with 3/3; 1/3; 1/5 and it still wouldn't pop hairs. I did 7 passes on the 12K Naniwa and still no popping. I checked the bevel through a 60X hand microscope and the bevel was black on both sides.

I had been reading on the Cotiucle Academy that sometimes you can strop it and it will help. I stropped it 50/linen and 50/leather and it started popping hairs like crazy.

So...this is the first time I have tried to hone from a dull edge to shave ready and I just wanted to thank everyone for all the help. Now I can't wait to try it tomorrow.

Question #1: Why would it not pop hairs after the 8k?

Question #2: Did I do the right thing on the 5K initially by doing the half strokes and circles, etc.? I am still a little confused about mid-range strokes. I have read that the edge should be honed until the 1K grooves are gone. If you do that, wouldn't it be a lot more than I did. However, looking at the bevel now, I don't see them, so I am assuming the pyramid scheme removed them. Is this correct? Maybe someone could clarify a little. Thanks.

[Utopian]

Q1. It depends on the person's hair. Since you are new to honing, you have no possible means of calibrating any kind of hair test. The only way that you might begin to do that would be to get a shave ready razor from someone else and test that, but you would have to make sure that any oil on it was removed. Basically for now you have no need for the HHT until you play with a lot more razors, so I recommend that you don't worry about it all yet.

Q2. So I am assuming that this was your first honing. Pardon me if that assumption is wrong. Anyway, there is nothing particularly wrong with any of the strokes you did, though you might have been better off just focusing on one stroke and first--the x stroke. I only say that because it would help you build up the muscle memory by doing only a single stroke. How many strokes are required at any stage depends on multiple factors, including the steel, the grind, the honing pressure, the particular hone, and the condition of the edge and bevel coming off of the previous hone. You did fine. The alternating grits of the pyramid sort of allow you to sneak up to the right edge without overdoing either hone level.

Stropping will always improve an edge after a honing, so it also will improve the ability of the edge to pop hairs.

Have fun with the shave tomorrow!

[Castel33]

For your first question the answer is that it varies. Some guys never get hht or arm hair or leg hair to work as a test. Some stones leave edges that make it hard or impossible. But the best piece of advice i think I heard about the hht is that it's completely worthless without having stropped on plain leather first. Which fits your situation.

I would also suggest you read up on the tpt test so you don't need to rely on hair. After reading about it try it on a brand new de to get an idea of what a shaving edge feels like. Then try it on your honed edge they should be very similar.

As to your second question utopian gave a very good overview of it.
I will say I have found that a lot of times less is best when it comes to honing.