Failed the shaving test today.

[FloorPizza]

I'm sorry to keep driving you guys nuts with all my newb blabbering, but I (once again) need some advice...

Quick summary: got my 8E and 8EE dia-sharps yesterday. Bread knifed an old Hill & Sons (Sheffield) blade. Set the bevel on the 8E, sharpened on the 8EE, did 50 laps on a Franz Swaty, then 25 on 1.0 diamond paste, 25 on .50 diamond paste, 25 on .25 diamond paste, then 150 bare strop.

It would *barely* pass the HHT on some areas of the blade. (Side note: does anyone else find it easier to really put a sharp edge on the heel section -rear half- of the blade than the front half?? That keeps happening to me.... back sharp, front not so much). But it was shaving even the finest arm hair with that "velvet squeegie" effect. (love that term, wish I could give whoever coined it proper credit). So I shaved with it.

It wasn't all that great on the first WTG pass. This was on three days growth (which for me makes me look like Grizzly Adams. Or Dr. House for you youngsters). I was able to get everything whacked down, but it wasn't particularly comfortable. Just for grins, I attempted an ATG pass. After I was done shaving, my alum block accurately described the exact location of my ATG pass attempt: "Oh, I see you attempted an ATG pass *right here* with a straight razor you honed yourself, dincha? Fool!" Anyway, I grabbed my Gillette adjustable and finished off ATG with it.

Soooo... Now I need some advice on what I should do with the tools I have to improve the edge. Everything I have is listed above. I do have a Chinese 12k coming from Chris, but it won't be here til next week.

I just have no idea how far back into the grits I need to go... all the way back to the 1.2k and start over? Or maybe the 8K? Swaty? Sheesh, I have no clue.

I'm thinking about maybe 20 heel leading X strokes on the 8k, 25 more on the Swaty, then 25 on each diamond paste. Does this sound reasonable?

[xman]

Do you have a 4k waterstone too? If you do and you are sure the bevel is set, I would just do a small pyramid. 5/5, 3/3, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, TPT & HHT and maybe a couple more laps on the 8k.

X

[FloorPizza]

Do you have a 4k waterstone too? If you do and you are sure the bevel is set, I would just do a small pyramid. 5/5, 3/3, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, TPT & HHT and maybe a couple more laps on the 8k.

X

I don't have a 4k waterstone, darn it. Supposedly, the 8k dia-sharp cuts as fast as a 4k, but finishes like an 8k, so I skipped buying a 4k stone. I think I'll give that small pyramid a try with the dia-sharps, then go back to the diamond pastes.

[Navaja]

Don't forget, you establish the bevel with the 8E, that's the point where you can do the HHT, to make sure it's sharp.
After that what you're doing is polishing the bevel, by going through several higher grits.
At this point you may not be able to do HHT, but the razor should be shave-ready.
The issue with the heal been sharper than the front may be due to an uneven stroke on the stone. Make sure you position the blade flat on the stone before the stroke.
You may want to get a Radio Shack telescope ($10), to be able to see the progress on the edge

[FloorPizza]

Sheesh, I didn't even think to try the HHT after the 8E; I didn't realize the 8E was capable of getting the edge to that level of sharpness. Great information, Navaja, thank you!

[xman]

You might be over honed. Try this first. Back hone in a stropping direction 3-5 times. If you've over honed, That should fix it if you have.

X

[alex2363]

are chinese hones 12k
any good

[xman]

They are liked as a finisher, just a few laps after the edge is created.

[FloorPizza]

are chinese hones 12k
any good

Chris has a great reputation around these parts. I seriously doubt he'd sell 'em if they weren't good stuff. That's the reason I bought one of em.

No pressure now, Chris.

[chee16]

You might be over honed. Try this first. Back hone in a stropping direction 3-5 times. If you've over honed, That should fix it if you have.

this is something i have read in a couple other places but couldn't figure out when to use it. so is it something that is more prone to work on the 8k stone? or other hones also?

BTW i didn't mean to hit the Thanks button (not that i'm not thankful) i was going for the quote button and some how ended up there. i usually don't hit the thanks on other peoples threads