Thread: Newbie Q: can't get razor sharp enough

I've been trying to get my dovo razor sharp.

I have 12K stone and green polishing compound. I tried doing some passes on the stone and then finish with the polishing compound on the canvas side of the strop. The razor can shave but it does not feel as sharp. For comparison I use feather straight razor, the disposable blades of that razor are REALLY sharp. Any advice on getting a really sharp edge, preferably with the tools I already have.

Thanks.

If the bevel is not properly set as is mostly the case with most new Dovos... No.... well, not in a reasonable amount of time.

I would suggest getting it pro honed by one of the senior members here then you should be able to keep it maintained with your tools.

Great advise from Oz. A 12k is a fine hone. Not suited for much else but finishing or touching-up an already shaving and undamaged edge, IMO.
That kind of 12k is it?

The 12K stone I have is this one from Shapton https://www.amazon.com/Shapton-M5-12.../dp/B002LW76XY

I also have some 6K stone (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MD4K3QM), and 1K by the same company that I use to maintain my kitchen knives. I always thought that anything below 10K is too low for a razor.

That's a good one, I think! Anyone with experience? The price is really good!

Give your location. There may be a member near you that can help.

Those kings work well with a little slurry, and you need to refresh the home with your lapping stone as soon as it starts feel slippery, a good gauge is the sound. Sounds like it’s not cutting as aggressively as it did when freshly lapped.

Not sure if your using tape for the spine or not. If you’re planning on not taping, I would tape it until you get the bevel reset, then set it again with the tape off, if planning to ultimately not use tape. It can save a razor that as newbs we can quickly ruin, I know from experience.

Once you get the bevel set on the 6k, keep honing until the stone feels really slick go super light, weight of the blade laps. You want to get the edge as perfect as possible before you jump to the 12k otherwise you’ll be there awhile. Good luck.

Be careful with the crox, a little goes a long way. I use 7 laps after I come off my 12k Naniwa, any more and it makes the blade “grabby” and irritating, at least to my face.

Ya as most will find out honing a razor us different get it pro honed by a real razor honing guy who shaves with a razor, also you need experience with a razor to make them work and without experience you can mess up an edge with the stropping and that's that. Tc

Add your location to your under your avatar, people often reach out to help, if we know where you are we can help in person. Definitely the best way to learn, from someone experienced .

Yes, Kings are there, but the 12k tadasv linked to first is a Shapton. Curious about that one.