Thread: Transitioning from tools to razors part ii

This original thread humbled me into learning that straight razor honing is not planer and chisel honing. For one, the stakes are so much higher on a soft target.

So now eBay delivered a nice kit of Naniwa 1, 3, 8 & 12k stones. I've put the DMT extra fine and Boy Scout stones away.I found an affordable loupe from Belarus BeLomo 20x (10 x would have been better choice) I have two strops and a piece of denim. One is a nice Illinois 206 and the other is pretty beat up for practice or maybe pasting?

My practice razor is a griffon xx taped. So far, I believe to be following directions well.

The main learning was to stop focusing on the 12k mirror finish ( it doesn't help ) but to start over and set te edge.

I'm following the honing guide https://shavelibrary.com/w/Beginner%27s_Guide_to_Honing and still need practice, but it looks great. Uniform slightly angled scratches on the 1000.

Long essay... but some questions

1) magic marker test - nice and clean except the last centimeter. I'll post a pic. Is it pressure? Practice? Smiley? Frowny? Lapping? Is it obvious?

2) ceramic naniwa 1k is a new ballgame for me. It seems to be building up? Ok right? Expected for fiftyish strokes?

3) I stroked t until it hums ... can't explain but it felt like a sharpening stone now it feels like smooth glass. That's a good sign but I don't know if I've got an edge or the same useless sharpness as before?

4) wet, right? (It feels right)

5) videos ? Is there a great video that we trust? I keep finding people demonstrating on paper

I don't want to progress up until 1k gets a passing grade.

One pic shows apparent buildup and practice razor
One pic shows clean green start
One pic shows AFTER four careful strokes on each side. The other side is clean.