Bevel setting meet up with 'Bejay' and my hard steel razors!
So our meet up began with a lot of clarifying info about bevel setting. Mostly what I was not doing and what I was doing wrong. I didn't mind being wrong, I was excited about learning how to correct those mistakes.
Here is a list of things I thought and did wrong. (I know I still have a lot to learn and these points are not going to cover everything about bevel setting but they are indeed for me major reasons why I was not experiencing great shaves or an enjoyable honing experience)
1. I was using zero torque (edge down to stone like turning a screwdriver as Glen put it)
There must be a present level of torque used depending on the razor of course throughout the honing progression especially at the bevel set stage. I used two hands to help me guide the blade so I don't roll the blade over and have to start all over again.
2. Hard steels need harder or more pressure....false
We used just about medium if not under medium downward and torquing pressure to a light set of strokes to finish the 1k off. I learned to let the stone do the work! Which I embarrassingly I have to admit I was using much much much more pressure previously
:gaah:
3. Doing 20 plus one sided knife strokes with no follow up passes to even out the sides.
I never did a set of downward count or diminishing stroke count to even out both sides of the bevel. Which is a major deal and part of bevel setting. I always ended up with a false edge at the edge of my honing or one side would shave better than the other.
Examples:
Do X strokes after some metal removing circles until the edge is passing bevel setting test. Not one or two X strokes like I was doing :gaah:
Do diminishing stroke count after some metal removing circles of course 10-10, 9-9, 8-8, 7-7, 6-6, 5-5, 4-4, 3-3, 2-2, and 1-1.
4. Setting a bevel takes a lot of time....false....(on a mostly correct geometry and overall decent razor condition)
Other than the lots of questions and talking the bevel setting on my PRC razor 61+HRC took under 10min and was actually enjoyable. We used a sharpie marker to visually see the progress we were making setting the bevel. Which was really cool to see.
5. Bevel setting test TNT, TPT, AHT, sharpie test and visual are learned easily...false
They all take time to learn and understand what they are telling me about the edge and that is okay lol
Chosera 1k bevel setting stone, Shapton glass 4k, 8k and 16k fabric strop and leather went home ate dinner and shaved after a shower. Results were exactly as they should be, close and smooth. When I applied aftershave with alcohol and alum in it there was zero 'Home Alone' action, it went on with an almost non existent sting!
I cannot say enough about 'Bejay' and his willingness to help me pull back the drapes and let the light in on how to set a bevel first and a bonus how to continue the rest of the progression to finishing the razor for a shave!!! :p