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.

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.

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.

What's your location? There may be a member near you that can help.

Originally Posted by Herakles

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

If it is brand new and you have not lapped it, then no, it is NOT flat. It is only flat if you make it flat and is only flat then until it has been used enough to no longer be flat. You need to learn to lap your stones if you want to hone with stones. If you want to hone with film, then you start with a flat plate such as a piece of 3/4" cast acrylic 3" x 12". It will always stay flat because the razor never touches the acrylic, only the film. When you hone on rocks, you put wear on them and the wear is not consistent from end to end and corner to corner. And so, lapping is necessary. And to be sure that they are flat the first tine you use them, you lap them when you buy them. On this and on other forums you can find threads about lapping stones. Read and heed.

You have barely touched that edge. It should be obvious, since the ding is still there. What did you say... 20 laps? On a 4k? You have done nothing. You have attempted to bail out a sinking ship with a shot glass and quit after 3 minutes because that ought to be enough. You have attempted to dig a canal with a teaspoon and now are puzzled at your lack of progress. A repair like that, start with 600 or 400 grit. Go until the ding is nearly gone. Then move up in grit. Then move up again, to your normal bevel setter, which is generally 1k or 12u to 15u film. You are trying to pyramid hone a razor that needs edge repair. Pyramid honing will work and because it is a system of instructions that you simply follow, it is fine for honing your first few razors, though there are definitely better methods out there. It does work. But it doesn't work for edge repair. Especially not starting from a 4k stone.

The good news is if you get a good bevel set, but there is still a tiny bit of the ding left, maybe it will shave okay. Chips and dings sometimes can be tolerated and do not interfere with getting a decent shave, if they are not too big.

You should do some more study before you try to do anything with this razor, IMHO. Or send it out. That's not a bad razor and it will treat you right if you do your part and if you have someone put a shave ready edge on it.

Some reading & viewing that may be of interest.

https://shavelibrary.com/w/Hone_Lapping_101

https://sharprazorpalace.com/advance...ir-tricks.html

It looks like as the chip sort of cups away laterally from the edge-if you look straight at the edge (as if you were going to drag it across the bridge of your nose) the edge runs straight then cups out then runs straight.