Thread: scratch marks Norton 4/8

Hello,

I've been honing my razors for about a year. I have a 1K king for my bevel setter, and a Norton 4/8. My razors are popping hairs on my arm, and for the most part provide a comfortable shave. I do get irritation on my neck, but I may attribute that to poor technique, weak lather etc. I believe my stropping technique to be adequate...

The point is, I'm trying to make sure I'm getting the best edge I can off my Norton. I've watched endless honing videos, and been on the JANnorton thread for guidance.

I set the bevel with my King, using a slurry created by my newly acquired 400/1000 combo diamond plate. After I set the bevel, I wash off the slurry, and use a clean hone, water only.

Next, I create a slurry with on my 4k Norton, and use a variety of different strokes (heel-leading X, straight, rolling X etc.) depending on the kind of blade. After I'm certain I got good coverage along the entire bevel edge, I wash off the slurry, and usually use the diamond plate again to get a clean surface on the 4k, wash off the slurry, and follow up with several more strokes until the edge feels smooth during the honing strokes (water only, light strokes).

Next I use the 8K and follow the same honing pattern. Create a slurry on the 8k with my diamond plate, follow my progression until the honing strokes feel smooth. Then clean the hone with the diamond plate, wash off the slurry, and very light strokes on the 8k with water only.

So I took some pics of my edge with my iPhone and came away with the best possible pics to share. My concern is despite my efforts, the majority of my bevel edges still have some noticeable scratches. The bevel edge is not a mirror edge, but more like a foggy-mirror edge (depending on the lighting and angle at which I'm looking at it through the loupe). The point is, I think there is room for improvement. Or, am I expecting too much from my 8K? Are scratch marks impossible to remove entirely with the 8K? My guess is perhaps I'm progressing too quickly off the 4K, but honestly, I'm spending a lot of time on the 4K just to make sure...

For the most part, my razors are all Sheffields, which I understand are made from softer metals, and perhaps more prone to scratches...

Can you kindly take a look at these pics? There not perfect, but hopefully you can see the scratches I'm referring to. Let me know if I'm looking at a normal edge based off my description?

Thanks for looking, and I appreciate your input!

When I got started honing my own in '08 there were guys who advocated honing on each grit until the scratches from the previous grit were gone. Going by what an old barber told me, that you could 'lose the edge' if you did too many strokes, I found this scratch removal stuff to be curious. At that time I bought some razors from Lynn, Joe Chandler, Robert Williams, others, that were pro honed.

I took my eye loupe and saw that there were plenty of scratches remaining in the bevel. From there on out I just focused on sharp and smooth and stopped worrying about scratch patterns. I've followed that practice ever since, and honed for myself, and for a few others, and gotten results I, and they, are happy with. Like all the rest of this sport YMMV. Some will disagree with me, but that is my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

When I got started honing my own in '08 there were guys who advocated honing on each grit until the scratches from the previous grit were gone. Going by what an old barber told me, that you could 'lose the edge' if you did too many strokes, I found this scratch removal stuff to be curious. At that time I bought some razors from Lynn, Joe Chandler, Robert Williams, others, that were pro honed.

I took my eye loupe and saw that there were plenty of scratches remaining in the bevel. From there on out I just focused on sharp and smooth and stopped worrying about scratch patterns. I've followed that practice ever since, and honed for myself, and for a few others, and gotten results I, and they, are happy with. Like all the rest of this sport YMMV. Some will disagree with me, but that is my story, and I'm sticking to it.

VERY WISE COUNSEL

I have edges that still have some scratches I'm in this about 10 months and I get great shaves from my blades. I personally don't believe they all gotta be gone . Agreed sir

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The only time I want them all gone is when I know they are still 1k marks. After that, I let the blade do the talking. By that I mean the sticky, suction feeling a blade gives you on the stones, telling you it's done.

Originally Posted by prodigy

The only time I want them all gone is when I know they are still 1k marks. After that, I let the blade do the talking. By that I mean the sticky, suction feeling a blade gives you on the stones, telling you it's done.

Yup, so OP, hows the shave?

You dont have to remove all the scratches, just the ones that affect the edge.

Are you using tape? You have a double bevel going on there and still some deep 1k stria.

Can you post photos of the whole razor?

In my limite

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Sorry fat thumbs, in my limited experience I seem to get a mirrored edge off 8k. That is what I had until recently and they always seemed to shine.

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I never saw any need to slurry a Norton 4K/8K. That may explain the cloudy look. Sharp should occur at 1K to 4K and then just polish. Less torque towards the edge and progressively lighter strokes works for me.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Yup, so OP, hows the shave?

You dont have to remove all the scratches, just the ones that affect the edge.

Are you using tape? You have a double bevel going on there and still some deep 1k stria.

Can you post photos of the whole razor?

the deep 1k stria is what has me concerned about not getting the best possible shave. I did not use tape the first time I honed the razor. Then yesterday, I did use tape - probably explains the double bevel. The razor shaved well this morning. But I did notice a bit of pull. Experimented with the angle 1 spine width seemed to feel smoothest. Might put it back on the hones, with tape, and take it back up from 1 k again to remove the double bevel. The razor is a Greaves.