Thread: Overhoning

Hello,

I’m new to this site and I have a question. I followed Lynn Abrams’s instructions down to the T for honing. I have a Dovo with a little ding/chip in the edge. I did the 20 circles on each side of my stone (a Norton 4000/8000); the ding never went away No matter how many times I did that (although one ding did get smaller). I followed up with 15, 10, 5, 1, 3 strokes on each side of the stone, the whole schmotzie of instructions. I now have a razor that glides over my face without cutting anything.

Any advice would be great. This is the first time I attempted the full honing process and I’ve had the razor for 10+ years. Before I tried honing, this razor, although not great lately, still cut the hair.

Thank you.

How long have you been honing? Pictures of razor? Are you using rolling X strokes? Hard to say without knowing more about the razor and your technique. Well, it is for me anyway.

If you are using too much pressure you could be flexing the edge.

If the ding in the edge is pretty noticeable, it will take time to remove with a 4k.

Don't use the finer side until you have the chip/ding in the edge removed. You should be able to shave facial hair with the 4k edge. I'm not saying it would be smooth or really comfortable but it should function. If it doesn't, then the edge isn't ready to finish.
I treat each grit stone like a finisher before moving to the next grit. Really try to max out the edge before proceeding.

Sounds like your bevel has not been set properly or you have rolled the edge. You need something grittier than a 4000 Norton to set the bevel properly and remove the chip - more along the lines of a 1000 bevel setting stone.

Gssixgun has a good post on removing a chip without having to remove a lot of metal. Use the advanced search feature at the top of the page to see if you can locate that information.

If you are new to honing, I suggest you send your razor out to someone with more experience to get it shave ready. Put your geographic location in your avatar info. There may be someone near you who can help.

Are you applying too much pressure and the edge is not in contact with hone? Put black marker on edge and see where it is removed with honing.

As stated earlier, if your not familiar with chip removal and bevel setting, it'd be best to send it out for this repair.

A 1k stone well be much faster at removing the chip. You will also want to use tape on the spine to protect it from un needed wear. I usually start with 3 layers to concentrate more on the apex and then remove layers after the chip is almost gone until the bevel is set. A 30x loupe is a great tool to have. I would add that if this is your first attempt at honing then you should probably have someone else do the chip removal. Learning to hone is hard enough.

Other than a few touch-ups with a very smooth stone this is the first time I have honed the blade. I am using x strokes. Here’s a picture. Thank you.

Originally Posted by JP5

How long have you been honing? Pictures of razor? Are you using rolling X strokes? Hard to say without knowing more about the razor and your technique. Well, it is for me anyway.

If you are using too much pressure you could be flexing the edge.

If the ding in the edge is pretty noticeable, it will take time to remove with a 4k.

Don't use the finer side until you have the chip/ding in the edge removed. You should be able to shave facial hair with the 4k edge. I'm not saying it would be smooth or really comfortable but it should function. If it doesn't, then the edge isn't ready to finish.
I treat each grit stone like a finisher before moving to the next grit. Really try to max out the edge before proceeding.

First, pics of the razor and edge will help, we may see something you are missing.

Is it a chip or a ding? There is a difference, how did it get there? If it is a ding, like hitting the faucet, the damage is greater than the visible chip. Once you remove the chip,( remove all the edge to the bottom of the chip) the steel at the bottom of the chip will be weak and may continue to chip until you remove enough and get to solid steel.

So, depending on how deep the damage goes, determines how much, (low grit) stone you need.

The good news is a Norton 4k is pretty aggressive and able to remove a good size chip easily. Though 20 circles may not be enough.

Start by jointing the edge, run the edge perpendicular to the upper corner of the stone, 2/3 times to remove a lot of the edge quickly and make the edge flat and straighter. You should be able to feel the chip. Mark the chip with a sharpie from the edge to the spine, so you can track your progress and find the chip easily. If you joint on the upper corner of the stone, you will never use that part of the stone to hone on.

Put 2 layer of tape on the spine, rest the razor on the stone and lift the spine about a ½ inch off the stone with the edge on the stone, now do sets of 20 circles on each side with even pressure. Reverse the direction of the circles with each set.

Continue to do circles until the chip is completely removed, test by lightly jointing the edge to see if you feel the chip. Once completely removed you are ready to set the bevel, grind the bevel to the proper angle, make one smooth flat bevel and get the bevels to meet at the new angle.

Put some sharpie ink on the bevels and lay the razor flat on the stone, edge and spine on the stone, do sets of 20 circles with lite pressure, you will have to reduce the back of the bevel to meet the edge. The sharpie and magnification will help you see your progress. Keep adding sharpie ink as needed to ensure you are honing all the way to the edge. A good 60x lighted loupe will help, I like the Carson MicroBrite plus, $10-15.

Replace the tape as needed, if it feels squishy, sticky or lumpy, you have burned through the tape.

Once you have completely removed the chip and are honing to the edge, (stria goes from the back of the bevel to the edge),replace the tape. Joint the edge again, use very lite pressure, just one lite stroke. Now reset the edge doing X strokes until you have a uniform stria pattern and a straight chip free edge.

If you want to make your life easier, pick up a $20 king 1k. it will do the same thing the 4k will do, only faster.

Here is an old post of a new honer removing damage and honing a razor with some very good micrographs, so you can compare your bevels to.

Second try at honing...seeking opinions/suggestions...

Looks like you hardly touched the edge. Are you keeping the blade flat on stone. Is your stone flat?

Yes the stone is flat. It’s brand new-this was the first use.