My first time with the hones

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08-06-2016, 05:24 PM
Mrchick

My first time with the hones

I've been lurking in these threads for a long time and have always been a little intimidated about honing. I sent my Otto Deutsch Hans to Glen for a honing so I would know what a properly honed razor felt like. I also had a couple of razors professionally restored and honed.
I have many razors that I have purchased that are in good shape but not shave ready. I decided to buy some hones and jump in.
I purchased a Naniwa S1000, Norton 4000/8000, DMT and a SRD paddle strop to go with my hanging strops. I bought CrOx and diamond spray with the SRD strop.
I had a week off and grabbed three razors on Wednesday that looked like good candidates for my first efforts. Following Glen and Lynn's videos, I lapped the hones until flat and began honing. I set the bevel, honed on the 4000 and 8000 until I saw a consistent and shiny bevel. I followed up with ten laps on the felt with CrOx and 50 on leather.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...551be12eda.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...31863b8228.jpg
Time for a shave test. All of the razors were cutting without tugging but not as smooth as I would like.
I also have a Kitayama Fine stone with Nagura that I bought at a Japanese cutlery store for my Japanese knives. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...33f5a9012e.jpg
I have read that this is actually a good stone for razors and decided to lap it and give it a go. I used the Nagura to make a slurry and honed all three razors for ten laps followed by CrOx and leather again. I also sharpened a knife while I was at it.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...96ffa36d5f.jpg
I have since shaved each day with one of these razors and have to say I am pleased with the results. While not perfect, each razor is capable of a comfortable two pass DFS. I look forward to continuing to learn.
I am writing this post to thank all of you that post tips and videos on this forum. I would not have been able to do this without you!
Have fun!
08-06-2016, 05:32 PM
Thug

I can imagine that it must be rather frightening to jump into the deep end and start honing with no prior experience but now that you've broken the ice, you'll now start refining your techinque and get smoother edges.

Well done.
08-06-2016, 05:38 PM
hrfdez

Thanks for sharing your experience.
08-06-2016, 05:45 PM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thug

I can imagine that it must be rather frightening to jump into the deep end and start honing with no prior experience but now that you've broken the ice, you'll now start refining your techinque and get smoother edges.

Well done.

Frightening but satisfying. Thanks for the encouragement.
08-06-2016, 05:53 PM
Phil129

Looks like you're getting the hang of it just fine. I took the same route as you, the most important part being having a shave ready blade to gauge your success. Thanks for sharing.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
08-06-2016, 05:57 PM
markbignosekelly

:tu The first time you hone a razor from bevel set to shave ready is a very rewarding experience. Congratulations
08-06-2016, 06:01 PM
Hirlau

Nice setup,, :tu
08-06-2016, 08:47 PM
kelbro

With the right tools, it's not as big of a deal as some make it out to be. Just need patience and practice. Good job!
08-06-2016, 08:50 PM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelbro

With the right tools, it's not as big of a deal as some make it out to be. Just need patience and practice. Good job!

Thank you. You are correct that it wasn't as difficult as I expected. I guess it's easy to over think it. I still have a ways to go but am not intimidated anymore.
08-06-2016, 09:49 PM
Substance

Great results mate and they will only get better as you fine tune your own techniques for each hone, just remember preasure is the killer of smooth edges
08-06-2016, 11:49 PM
kaptain_zero

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrchick

Thank you. You are correct that it wasn't as difficult as I expected. I guess it's easy to over think it. I still have a ways to go but am not intimidated anymore.

Just wait.... the honing gods will find a way to amuse themselves yet.

I'm working on a razor that has been sitting here for 5 years untouched..... Now I remember why!

Regards

Christian
08-07-2016, 12:08 AM
Whizbang

Congratulations on your success! I really enjoyed reading about your honing journey and the pics were great. Now you get to enjoy the fruits of your handiwork!
08-07-2016, 12:27 AM
Lazarus

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Just wait.... the honing gods will find a way to amuse themselves yet.

I'm working on a razor that has been sitting here for 5 years untouched..... Now I remember why!

Regards

Christian

Yep! I think it may have been Glen that put it this way: "Honing is easy - until it isn't." By all means celebrate the victory but don't get discouraged when you hit a speed bump.
08-07-2016, 12:32 AM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Just wait.... the honing gods will find a way to amuse themselves yet.

I'm working on a razor that has been sitting here for 5 years untouched..... Now I remember why!

Regards

Christian

Thanks. I have a few in the queue that might sit here for a while. For example, I'm not ready for smiling blades yet. I'm going to keep practicing with the easy looking and inexpensive ones for a while. This one cost me less than $15.00 and it will be up next. The blade looks to be in good shape and hard to screw up[emoji1]
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...02d663e729.jpg
08-07-2016, 12:43 AM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Yep! I think it may have been Glen that put it this way: "Honing is easy - until it isn't." By all means celebrate the victory but don't get discouraged when you hit a speed bump.

Thank you. I know the speed bumps are inevitable. What is nice is that I have a bunch of you to that will be able to give me advice when I hit them. I do like this community.
08-07-2016, 01:00 AM
KsStraightShaver

I started honing from the beginning myself an I thought everything was great too until I ran into that problem blade I have 3 or 4 I can't recall that I take out from time to time an take to the hones to no avail an I put them back up when I get angry at them again.

But it sounds like you're on the right path with choosing the easier one to start an not trying to take on all of them at once.

Not to steal your thread here but Lazarus is the Anerican bulldog in your photo yours, because that is one good looking? dog I myself have 2 one male one female.
08-07-2016, 01:19 AM
Demetrius

Thanks for your post. I'm sort of in the same place. I've got one razor that I honed from bevel set through finishing that I am (mostly) happy with. I've got a couple more to work on next. I'm doing the same thing- buying cheap razors for practice. Good luck on this journey!
08-07-2016, 01:33 AM
Lazarus

Quote:

Originally Posted by KsStraightShaver

... Not to steal your thread here but Lazarus is the Anerican bulldog in your photo yours, because that is one good looking? dog I myself have 2 one male one female.

Thank you - very kind of you to say so. He was indeed mine. We owned his mother and father. His mother died after delivering him and his 9 siblings. We hand raised him and his litter mates. He was the runt of the litter and almost died a few times so I kept him. Hence his name "Lazarus" honored in my avatar. He grew into a fine specimen of an American Bulldog. At 90 lbs he could jump a 6 foot fence, run down a coyote and be gentle with small children. Wow talk about hijacking a thread. We lost him not too long ago and this tribute just poured out of me.
08-07-2016, 02:24 AM
s0litarys0ldier

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrchick

The blade looks to be in good shape and hard to screw up

Never assume anything is hard to screw up! A razor that looks easy to hone can humble you and prove a challenge. Look at each as a unique blade not as an easy or hard to hone blade.
08-07-2016, 03:03 AM
kaptain_zero

Quote:

Originally Posted by KsStraightShaver

I started honing from the beginning myself an I thought everything was great too until I ran into that problem blade I have 3 or 4 I can't recall that I take out from time to time an take to the hones to no avail an I put them back up when I get angry at them again.

Thanks for that reminder and yes, I did not mean to make light of "MrChick's" accomplishment. There are few things more satisfactory, than successfully shaving with a straight you have honed yourself.

And as KsStraightShaver points out, it is important to realize when to put something away and go do something else... the solution may be easy and obvious, but not while you're staring at it in a foul mood. Then again, it might be one of those &*$(#&(^@#$# razors that drives you 87 times around the bend before you beat it into submission, but even then, it's best to put it aside when you grow tired of it.

I had one of those awkward razors when I came back to them after a 5ish year layoff.... it was a 4/8" I had many good shaves from in the past, and I know I honed it several times, but for some reason, I just wasn't feeling it on the hone and I could see I was going off the rails. I put it aside and eventually sent it to a local gent who hones razors for $$$, When I got it back, he seemed to think it was *almost* there when he got it, and didn't seem to see any reason for trouble. He was probably right.... it was me, not the razor! The important thing is to not keep grinding away if it's not working like you think it should.... Take a break, and look at it with fresh eyes another day... or year..... or decade...<sigh>.

So, congratulations! We are very happy for you, but we will also be here when you start crying in your beer over some (*&$)&(#)@ razor that won't behave! We've all been there..

Regards

Christian
08-07-2016, 03:30 AM
Johntoad57

Great Job on the honing on your razors! Can't wait until I hear about your experience honing a wedge. I found those to be different animals altogether. I find that hollow grounds to be easier. Maybe it's just me... Anyway good look in your endeavors!
08-07-2016, 05:04 AM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demetrius

Thanks for your post. I'm sort of in the same place. I've got one razor that I honed from bevel set through finishing that I am (mostly) happy with. I've got a couple more to work on next. I'm doing the same thing- buying cheap razors for practice. Good luck on this journey!

Thank you. Good luck with yours.
08-07-2016, 05:15 AM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Never assume anything is hard to screw up! A razor that looks easy to hone can humble you and prove a challenge. Look at each as a unique blade not as an easy or hard to hone blade.

Thank you for the advice. I should have said not too expensive if I screw it up. I realize that I can and probably will screw something up, that is why I am picking inexpensive blades without hone wear for practice. I am staying away from more difficult grinds, like wedges, for now but understand that any blade could end up being difficult.
08-07-2016, 05:17 AM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Thanks for that reminder and yes, I did not mean to make light of "MrChick's" accomplishment. There are few things more satisfactory, than successfully shaving with a straight you have honed yourself.

And as KsStraightShaver points out, it is important to realize when to put something away and go do something else... the solution may be easy and obvious, but not while you're staring at it in a foul mood. Then again, it might be one of those &*$(#&(^@#$# razors that drives you 87 times around the bend before you beat it into submission, but even then, it's best to put it aside when you grow tired of it.

I had one of those awkward razors when I came back to them after a 5ish year layoff.... it was a 4/8" I had many good shaves from in the past, and I know I honed it several times, but for some reason, I just wasn't feeling it on the hone and I could see I was going off the rails. I put it aside and eventually sent it to a local gent who hones razors for $$$, When I got it back, he seemed to think it was *almost* there when he got it, and didn't seem to see any reason for trouble. He was probably right.... it was me, not the razor! The important thing is to not keep grinding away if it's not working like you think it should.... Take a break, and look at it with fresh eyes another day... or year..... or decade...<sigh>.

So, congratulations! We are very happy for you, but we will also be here when you start crying in your beer over some (*&$)&(#)@ razor that won't behave! We've all been there..

Regards

Christian

I will come back to this thread through the tears[emoji1] Thanks
08-07-2016, 06:20 AM
KsStraightShaver

Well I am glad to hear the story an sorry to hear all that at the same time. I have lost 2 myself my first one ate some diapers an we didn't know she'd gotten them out of the trash before I took it out an we had to put her down because by the time we realized anything was wrong (perfect health to skeleton in a few days no warnings) it was too late.

The second female was stolen after a dog jumped our fence an attacked her an my male I have now (he was a puppy then) an they went through the fence to catch him an someone grabbed her in a passing car, that broke my daughters heart as she was her bday present.

That male is now 110# an can go over or through a fence an is very gentle with children also. An we purchased a new female all white about 6 months ago to breed for next year sometime.

The last thing I would say to you is this my first one was the female we put down she came from Blasco family bulldogs in Coloradosprings Co I mention this because they are close to you their dogs are beautiful an huge. She was by far the smartest Ab I have ever owned (not that the others are dumb) when we got her we had no fence an I walked her around the yard from the time we got her after a week she would go out side an never leave the yard without permission even if a cat ran by she would chase it to the end of the yard stop turn around an come back to the porch. You should really check them out if it's not to soon.
08-09-2016, 09:16 PM
ScoutHikerDad

Wow, impressive setup, nice blades and stones! And the Otto Deutsch Hans is a beautiful razor-I just sold a pristine example on ebay for some strange reason.

And I wouldn't let smiling edges intimidate me too much. As that is what I prefer, I learned (am learning!) to hone on some seriously curvy blades. The fundamentals are the same; the smiling blades just force you to be much more tuned in on ensuring that the edge contacts the hone all along, from heel to toe. Sometimes they need more work at each end with some gentle circles or back and forths before evening it all out with the rolling or rocking x-strokes. And for me, a layer of tape helps with the edge contact on "wedgie" blades-but then I use tape on all of them! But for what it's worth, I feel I personally get better edges at this point on the smiling Sheffields than I do the straight edges, maybe just because of more practice.

Thanks for sharing your journey. Aaron
08-10-2016, 01:25 AM
Mrchick

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Wow, impressive setup, nice blades and stones! And the Otto Deutsch Hans is a beautiful razor-I just sold a pristine example on ebay for some strange reason.

And I wouldn't let smiling edges intimidate me too much. As that is what I prefer, I learned (am learning!) to hone on some seriously curvy blades. The fundamentals are the same; the smiling blades just force you to be much more tuned in on ensuring that the edge contacts the hone all along, from heel to toe. Sometimes they need more work at each end with some gentle circles or back and forths before evening it all out with the rolling or rocking x-strokes. And for me, a layer of tape helps with the edge contact on "wedgie" blades-but then I use tape on all of them! But for what it's worth, I feel I personally get better edges at this point on the smiling Sheffields than I do the straight edges, maybe just because of more practice.

Thanks for sharing your journey. Aaron

Thank you for the encouragement. It's nice to know I don't need to fear a smiling blade. I look forward to another honing session this weekend. Thanks again!
08-10-2016, 04:01 PM
Euclid440

Well, that is an interesting stone, a synthetic binder with natural grit, much like the synthetic coticules.

I wonder about the grit rating. They recommend it for edges that will cut produce and not meat, I wonder why?

I suspect because it is a soft stone and they recommend using a slurry to polish that it leaves a harsh, serrated edge as most knife stones do.

It would be interesting to see the edge under magnification and compare it to a Norton 8k edge, that can easily be polished to a fine shaving edge with Chrome Oxide.

All that really matters is that you are shaving and happy with the results. Rock on…

The key to learning to hone, is problem solving and understanding what you are seeing, at magnification. Do get at least 60x magnification and look at several of the threads by PCM on honing, beginning with (My Second Try at Honing).

He has taken lots of great micrographs of his honing process and while the threads are long, they are packed full of issues that most folks encounter in honing vintage razors.

Also most useful are edge pics of almost and fully set bevels.
08-10-2016, 08:37 PM
Mrchick

My first time with the hones

Thank you for the thread referral @Euclid440 There is some great info there. I actually bought this stone for knives. I found some reviews from people that used it on razors where they found it to be a good performer that actually outperformed some 8000 stones. I figured I would give it a try. No doubt I will get something finer for a finishing stone some day, but I'm happy with this one for now.