Thread: removing knicks on Norton 4k?

Looking at my blade closely, I've noticed there're are a few very small knicks/chips near the toe. They seem to extend about a quater of the way into the bevel, and are only discenible by looking VERY closely and turning the blade slightly so they disrupt any light glinting off the bevel. Would the 4000 grit side of a Norton 4K/8K be enough to remove these or will I need a courser stone? They don't seem to be major defects to me, but I've never honed a razor, so I have no reference.
Thanks, Leon.

Have you shaved with a properly honed straight yet?

Yes, the 4K can work, look up honing circles, or circular strok honing and you should find something.

To be honest, I'm not sure whether I've ever experienced a well honed razor. When my razor was sent to me I was assured it was shave ready, but it didn't feel great to shave with. For all I know the guy who honed it might have put the knicks in it and I've only just noticed them. I've no idea if the guy who did it was great at honing or poor at honing.

If it were honed by someone like lyn, I could have faith in the honing and put the less-than-perfect shave down to poor technique.

As is, I'm not sure how the knicks got there, but I gotta get 'em out. I don't know of any honemeisters in England, so, rather than send it on a long trip across the pond to Lyn, I wanna jump in feet-first and begin learning to hone.

There are two or three ways to go for honing in the UK. Poona here on SRP (over in Belfast) will hone it for postage and a small fee. From my experiences I would be tempted to start out with at least one good reference razor. It lets you know what you should be expecting. I have various eBay razors I am 'experimenting' with right now re honing - I wouldn't like to rely on any of them till I know better what I am doing. And that doesn't happen overnight - at least for me.

Hope it works out - it just takes a little time to get it just right. And I'm still aiming at that myself.

cheers
Stephen

Thanks, Stephen. I think you're right about my needing a good reference when learning to hone. I've heard of Poona, and am gonna get a few razors to send to him in a couple of months. Poona's studying for exams at the moment, so, understandably, he's not offering his honing service till they're over.

I'd like to work on this razor in the mean time, and I'm hoping I don't have to invest in an additional stone. Hopefully I'll be able to get it closer to where it should be, then I can check it against a well-honed razor in a few weeks. Frankly, I'm a bit impatient and eager to get into honing.

Patience is not one of my virues either, however I think it is worth cultivating as a reference point is essential. Good luck with what you decide to do - remember that you are not alone, there are lots of folk spread around trying to sort this skill out satisfactorily. Keep checking back here for support - that's my strategy.

Originally Posted by Leofric

Looking at my blade closely, I've noticed there're are a few very small knicks/chips near the toe. They seem to extend about a quater of the way into the bevel, and are only discenible by looking VERY closely and turning the blade slightly so they disrupt any light glinting off the bevel. Would the 4000 grit side of a Norton 4K/8K be enough to remove these or will I need a courser stone? They don't seem to be major defects to me, but I've never honed a razor, so I have no reference.
Thanks, Leon.

Here