Help setting an edge

I have a number of str8s that I'd like re-establish the edge on. These are a collection of mostly razors from Ebay and other sourses that need a lot of work. I have a 6x2 DMT, 1200 grit, to do this with. I don't have much invested here. These razors have potential, but for now, this is just practice for me; and, I could get something really special out of it.

How do you tell when your edge is ready to move on to the sharpening and polishing process? Do I need to tape the spine? Is there an average number of stokes using a 1200 DMT? - I do have a microscope.

Thanks,

Steve

i reset my ebay restorations with the norton 4k side. i use a slurry and usually it takes about 30-40 strokes. then i go rinse off the slurry and clean the stone..then start my pyramids.

this works for me. no problems doing any of my carbon blades this way uptill now.

as a side note, i did a magnetic steel (etched on the blade) that took almost 2x as many strokes. it was seriously tough steel. very light weight steel but jebus tough stuff.

~J

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Originally Posted by jscott

i reset my ebay restorations with the norton 4k side. i use a slurry and usually it takes about 30-40 strokes. then i go rinse off the slurry and clean the stone..then start my pyramids.

this works for me. no problems doing any of my carbon blades this way uptill now.

as a side note, i did a magnetic steel (etched on the blade) that took almost 2x as many strokes. it was seriously tough steel. very light weight steel but jebus tough stuff.

~J

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I do have a Belgium 4K - I wonder how that compares to the Norton 4K? I'mwondering which would be best for setting the edge? The Belgium Blue or the DMT>

If I buy razors from forum members whom I trust (and know what they're doing) I strop them as is. If I get one from ebay I do just as jscott said. I reset the base at the 4k side. Only I go backwards first, with spine at the front and blade trailing behind. This is just to reset the base. Then, just exactly as jscott said, I start my pyramids with blade edge facing normally. I always tape the spines on my razors to avoid hone wear, though you'll find different schools of thought in this forum on the need to do this. You'll have to decide to tape the spines or not from the start since this changes the actual bevel on the edge drastically. I find that this not only protects the blade during honing but the raised bevel makes the razor a little more forgiving with careless stropping in the evenings. Remove the tape immediatley after honing as the tape can trap moisture. You know this but stupid me had to learn this the hard way!
Ernest

JScott,

This has confused me since I bought my Norton last year: Mine is actually really slow. Doing 40 laps on an eBay razor, regardless of the pressure, wouldn't do beans. My Norton 4K doesn't seem any faster than my Belgian blue, which seems really odd to me.

That's what prompted me to get a DMT diamond hone. Maybe my Norton 4K is defective. :shrug: It seems like some members think the 4K is fast, and others find it takes an eternity to do anything.

Steve, your 6x2 DMT will work very well for resetting the bevels on your eBay finds. Do tape the spine, because it'll wear them quickly. Perform X-patterns with light, even pressure. Do sets of 20 laps, doing a thumbnail test periodically to see how you're progressing. When the razor bites into the nail smoothly and evenly all along the edge, you're ready to go to the Belgian blue. :)

Have fun,
Josh

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Originally Posted by JoshEarl

JScott,

This has confused me since I bought my Norton last year: Mine is actually really slow. Doing 40 laps on an eBay razor, regardless of the pressure, wouldn't do beans. My Norton 4K doesn't seem any faster than my Belgian blue, which seems really odd to me.

That's what prompted me to get a DMT diamond hone. Maybe my Norton 4K is defective. :shrug: It seems like some members think the 4K is fast, and others find it takes an eternity to do anything.

Steve, your 6x2 DMT will work very well for resetting the bevels on your eBay finds. Do tape the spine, because it'll wear them quickly. Perform X-patterns with light, even pressure. Do sets of 20 laps, doing a thumbnail test periodically to see how you're progressing. When the razor bites into the nail smoothly and evenly all along the edge, you're ready to go to the Belgian blue. :)

Have fun,
Josh

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Thank you, Josh! This is great information for me

Razors from Ebay usually have one thing in common, oxidised (rusted) steel on the edge. Before any decent bevel can be developed the oxidized steel needs to be removed. Usually either a 1200 DMT or 1000 grit sandpaper is used to remove this. Occasionally a 4K Norton will do the job. Use your microscope to look at your starting edge/bevel. Check every 20 laps or so. What you are looking for is a lack of rust colored spots/pits on the bevel and a uniform texture on the bevel and also on the edge. The 1000 grit range is very harsh on the edge of a razor so do no more than is necessary with that grit range.

Just my two cents,