Thread: Adventures in Magnification / Honing Feedback / What's Wrong with the 12K?

Got it, thank you my friend.

I do not believe there is warp in it... she seems very very flat (although very thin... I tried to capture in the photo but it keeps focusing on my hand). The honing to the stabilizer is likely from my exaggerated rolling strokes when I start each level. Maybe that's causing the chipping... I always tape in front (towards the toe) of the stabilizer, never on it to prevent what you describe.

To check for warp or twist, Lay the blade on a stone and see if it wobbles. If not try slipping a small strip of paper under the blade at the heel, middle and toe. Do the same for the spine.

Most razors have a bit of warp, it is not a big deal, just use an X stroke for your finishing strokes and the varying pressure will compensate for the warp on both sides. Just watch the pressure, really all you have to do is think about the pressure shift from the heel to the toe as you swoop the toe to the bottom corner of the stone.

If your toe needs a little more, pretty common especially at the very tip. Ink the edge at the tip and do a lite, slow X stroke on an 8k or higher, with the heel lifted about a 1/8th inch off the stone.

Look at the tip and adjust the lift until you are making full contact with the stone and honing to the edge. With this method you can also hone a bit of the toe corner, so the top edge of the tip is fully honed. Very useful for those single hairs under the nose or a bit in the nostril.

Ink is your friend; I like red it is easier to see without magnification.

One last thing to check, make sure your stone has the edges beveled or rounded. Run your fingernail on the stone corner, if it is sharp or you feel a chip, that can snag you edge as the razor heel comes off the stone and the edge slides over the corner. It is the last part of the stone to touch your edge and can easily muck it up.

I make a 45-degree bevel then break those corners in a rounding stroke with a diamond plate. Then when you refresh the face, a couple quick swipes keep the corners away from the face.

All I want to say is nice photos!