Thread: Honing with a smile.

So, I had a thread going about my first honing attempt. Neither it nor I survived the great catastrophe, but here we go again...

I actually have good news to report. It seems I'm getting the hang of the rolling hone, as I [I]believe[I] I'm starting to get rid of the double bevel on the stubborn side of my razor. As best I can describe it, the bit where the two bevels meet is getting "fuzzy". I assume this means I'm finally starting to remove metal where the two bevels meet and am on my way to a single bevel all the way across the edge. (There's a little segment in the middle that's already good.)

I want to thank everyone who gave advice on "First hone plan" and ask if the fuzziness means to just keep doing what I'm doing or if I should be moving on in anyway.

-Josh

Who are you? . . .







Just Kidding.



I've forgotten what you had available but you might use a polishing stone, like the 8k and do about 10 passes and then see how much of the bevel is polished. This'll immediately tell you where your at.

Woohoo! Is the edge getting sharp enough to cut
hairs off your arm? You may have some more
work to go to get that even bevel, so keep truckin!

- Scott

Welcome back, josh.
Sounds to me like you're on the right track.
+1 on Alan's advice.
I guess it's time to start doing the TumbNailTest (TNT)
Drag the edge over your moistened thumbnail, as if you were going to cut in it (that is: if you were to use enough pressure) Use only the weight of the blade and draw it slowly across the nail. If your bevel is okay, it should feel smooth, but "sticky". Sticky means that you should feel some drag coming from the blade as it cuts in the outer layer of your thumbnail. You should notice a fine scratch on your nail after the test. If it's just smooth without "sticky"-ness, then your bevel isn't keen enough yet. That means more 4000. If it sticks you can start polishing the bevel on a finishing stone (8000).
If there are tiny chips or other imperfections in your edge, the test will reveal them. The blade won't be gliding in a smooth fashion in such cases.

Once you get there and you decide to start polishing on a Norton 8000: don't do too many laps! I don't own a Norton myself (I use the Belgian stones), but I've read many posts that warn how easy it is to overhone on a Norton. If you're like me, you'll have to fight an urge to do 20 laps more, and after that, another 20, and after that a very last 20, and after that, a very very last 20, and after that... while in the process thinking that your edge will become sharper with every additional 2O laps. I guess some of us are brought up with the notion that the harder one works, the better the results and the greater the reward will be. That doesn't count for honing, as for some other things in life that I can think of, for instance, typing answers to questions asked by fellow straight razor shavers and lingering on endlessly about honing and the philosophy lesson it carries. How ultimately boring would that be?

Have fun and good luck,
Bart.

Thanks, guys.

Sebell: Nope! But that's cool. I'm okay with slow progress - it's lots better then nothing changing.

Alan: I have a 220/1k and a 4k/8k, both Nortons. A little polishing for visibility sounds like a good idea.

Bart: That's the best description of that test I've read so far.

I've still got a long way to go, I think, but I'm freshly encouraged.

Honing with a smile...Hmm...Isn't that kind of like whistling while you work?

After some laps on the 8k, the side of the razor that doesn't have the double bevel looks nice and smooth. It's almost blackish? I think that side polished up nicely. The other side has much more visible scratching, etc. My current guess is that the 2x bevel side is getting close, but still doesn't have a consistent bevel. It's almost as if the stone is right now hitting the spot where they meet, so it can't polish most of the edge. I feel like it could be 10 laps or 100 laps, but eventually (and probably suddenly) it'll become one. At least across most the blade.

On the poor side try using the magic marker trick. Then you will see where you hones are touching the edge. It will help you to modify your honing stroke.

According to the USPS, the shave-ready razor I bought from a member arrived this morning. I should have time tonight to try the new honing technique and visually compare with the sharp razor.

Unfortunately, I shaved this morning and with the TGQ soap I actually get a pretty close shave from the Mach 3, so a test shave will have to wait. But, that gives me a little more time to possibly get the difficult razor ready for it's true test.

-Josh

Originally Posted by KingOfMalkier

I actually get a pretty close shave from the Mach 3

DON'T SWEAR IN THE CURCH
Even as we speak, a posse, lead by Lynn, is being formed to hunt you down and wash your mouth with lather...