Thread: Help

I'm trying to use a frictionite #24. I am doing a small x pattern but am getting nowhere. I have spent several hours with the Razor I am trying to bring back to life but as I said, I am getting nowhere. I have tried using it wet, with water with lather and even with liquid soap as I saw in one post. I seem to be finding the pressure issue a problem. I am having trouble keeping the blade flat while moving it across the surface. This is my first time trying this and the hone and razor was a gift so its rather important for me to get it right. I would welcome any help offered.
My Thanks,
stew

Originally Posted by Stewart

I'm trying to use a frictionite #24. I am doing a small x pattern but am getting nowhere. I have spent several hours with the Razor I am trying to bring back to life but as I said, I am getting nowhere. I have tried using it wet, with water with lather and even with liquid soap as I saw in one post. I seem to be finding the pressure issue a problem. I am having trouble keeping the blade flat while moving it across the surface. This is my first time trying this and the hone and razor was a gift so its rather important for me to get it right. I would welcome any help offered.
My Thanks,
stew

Stewart,

Are you holding the hone in the palm of your hand? This is the accepted way to use a barber hone. This way, due to the small size of the hone, you can adjust your stroke and pressure as you do your X pattern keeping them consistant. I believe this will give you more control.

I hope this helps

Steve

HI and thanks! yes, I tried that last night for about 4 hours and today, I rigged a small water bath for the hone . After 4 hours of my hands under running water they were a bit like prunes and dont even ask me about the water bill

I just have to be doing something wrong but I am in the dark as to what! I have read everything I can both here and other sites as well and I am no closer.. I try to not ask for help too soon but I figured it was time
Thanks

I think I need to leave this one up to one of our honemeisters.

Although, I cannot imagine trying to hone under running water. It would seem to be very distracting to me. All you need is to keep the stone spritzed. I keep a spray bottle of water with a few drops of detergent added for all my waterstones. I just spritz the surface when needed.

Good Luck. I hope someone chimes in...

Regards,

Steve

If the hone is gritty lap it. Forget the running water. Backhone a little. Start over again using just a tad of pressure to keep the blade flat then lessen the pressure as you go, testing often.

Move to a lighter touch:

Keep your pinky under the scale to lift the scales and hold the shank with finger and thumb as the leverage point and use a light touch keeping the blade flat.

Start dry, then add lather as the blade gets sharper.

Some barber hones cut fast, some slow.

Does the hone feel really smooth when you rub a wetted finger over it? If not, try a different hone.

Barber hones are a little sporadic.

Use a microscope or your naked eye with bright light and see if your polishing up the edge at all or if its staying really striated. If your not seeing a brite shine from the edge as you hone your not really doing much of anything.

How far is the razor from being sharp? Barber hones are designed for quick touchups of a blade that is not quite sharp. If you're starting with a blade that is a long way from being shave-ready, a barber hone is probably not the best hone to start on.

It all depends on the state of the razor. If the bevel is chipped you need a coarser hone to hone the chips out. If there's no chips you can use a barber hone. Use the X-pattern which is explained elsewhere. Check whether the bevel makes contact with the hone along its whole length by marking the bevel with a felt tip. After marking do 5 strokes and check. If there's still felt tip marking on the bevel you need to set a new bevel with a coarser hone. As soon as the wole bevel is in contact with the hone start doing pyramids between the coarser and barber hone till your edge is sharp. ther's no need to hone under a running tap. A wet surface is all you need, some barber hones can be used dry. The user's instructions will tell you. Pyramids are explained in the help files.

Remember to hone with bevel and spine on the hone at all times! Never lift the spine not even 1/32" or less.

Good luck. Let's know how you get on.

BTW: buy Lynn's DVD if you haven't already.