Thread: A Bevel Experiment!!!!!

Originally Posted by KingOfMalkier

...Do you start doing pyramids as soon as the edge passes the marker test? Or should it be at least popping arm hairs?

The marker test shows you where the hone is working the edge. It is also a valuable tool to help you develop your honing stroke with razors having a smile.

Bear in mind that passing the TNT might be from the existing edge that is different from the bevels that you are trying to set now.

I'd say that when the edge passes the marker and TNT then you have a good working bevel. Use both tests with any new-to-you razor that you are setting a bevel on. A freshly set bevel on a 1200 mesh or 4k should shave arm hairs with ease at skin level. How well it mows hair above skin level will depend on your own hair's characteristics. For instance, my fine arm hairs are not easily mowed by a 12k edge, I have to go more by how they are "grabbed/pulled". YM will V. I use the TPT and the mowing hair test once I have the bevels set. I like the TPT the best.

After my razor passes the TNT, I move to my next finer hone. I don't use pyramids. After putting an 8k polish on an edge, it seems counter-productive to me if I go back and put 4k striations on my 8k bevels. I believe pyramids are designed to prevent new users from over-honing (and avoiding wire edges, maybe). Another reason I don't use pyramids is because I don't use a Norton...

After the bevel is set I just polish on each successively finer hone/paste until a noticeable difference is seen. For me, setting the first bevel usually takes the most time.

EDIT: Here's a good reference link. I stole most of this post from it...