Thread: Looking for a wet stone set

True. But since he's buying something (maybe and not considering a change of stone), might just as well get something easier to get results with.

I guess you guys that have been throwing in help suggestions deserves an upate.
A fellow member sharptonn help me finding the wet stone we think could work the best in my case, a Norton 4/8K that with my small coticule should be enough to achieve a nice edge, a more sesoned user may requiere a 12K or even exotic finishing tools but for me in the primary phase of my learning curve will be a waste and as many of you already said the honing abilities overcome the tools.
Last night I decided to practice a little more, so after dulled my Bambola 205 edge on the couticule side I set the bevel using a 1000 grit wetsand paper over a glass method with a layer of electrical tape over the spine.
Then I made some heavy slurry on the BB side of the couticule and did what I guess was about 200 passes after that some whater drops to diluite the slurry and another 100 laps.
A little brake to relight the pipe and sip some tea (not a good idea to smoke a Rusticated pipe while you are dealing with the fine powder honing left in the hands)
The previous procedure was repited on the fine side of the stone plus another 100 laps over clean water with minimum pressure on the blade.
After 50 laps on my battered strop I felt the job was done.
The final test, the shave, I have to say thank to all the inputs, support and knowlege acumulated by this community, I must had improved my skills because I got the smoother shave since I first try my second hand also battered vintage straight razors.
I certainly know smoother should not be wrongly take as shave ready but at least was better than before.
Waiting for the honing tools to arrive but in the meanwhile I will still searching and practicing.

Can you find a length of thin balsa wood, Roberto?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Can you find a length of thin balsa wood, Roberto?

Yes Tom I can manage my self, how thick ?

About 3/16 or thinner seems right. I will send you some CroOx powder to paste some balsa. Works darn good after the 8k!

How battered is your strop? You might be better off stropping on clean cardboard or a clean leather belt. Other wise you may be going backwards with your strop.

Are you using magnification?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

How battered is your strop? You might be better off stropping on clean cardboard or a clean leather belt. Other wise you may be going backwards with your strop.

Are you using magnification?

Magnification 12X I gonna start looking for a bigger factor

Might flip it and use it upside down? Unless you are left-handed, of course.
Cut a strip off the right side?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Might flip it and use it upside down? Unless you are left-handed, of course.
Cut a strip off the right side?

When you said flip it means the other side of the strop?
the other side is rough not smooth

Cutting a small strip of the right (damage side) sounds like a bright idea, although will be thiner should be better than damage

Do you know what the strop is made from, unusual color for cow leather, is it leather? What is the fraying on the edge, Is it cloth or leather?

I would at least flip the strop so you are not stropping on the frayed edge. Take a clean paper towel, dampen it and wipe the strop see what comes off.

You can lightly clean it with any good liquid degreaser and a clean sponge or paper towel. If leather you will need to rehydrate with a clean sponge soaked with warm water, wipe both sides and apply a few drops of Ballastol or Neetsfoot oil and rub into the leather. Wait a few days and re apply.

If the strop is too contaminated, it might be time to find a new strop, or at least a clean leather belt. If you can get stones you should be able to locate a new strop. Good starter strops are available here for about $50.

A dirty strop can undo a lot of good honing.

When starting out honing, magnification makes learning what is going on at the edge a lot easier. I recommend 60-100X available on-line for as low as $10-15.