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I've read everything I could find about honing my razor. After quite a bit of effort I'm still not getting it anywhere near as sharp as it should be. It can cut, and removes some hair, but never shaves me clean without tugging.
If there is anyone in the Seattle, WA area that could teach me what I'm doing wrong, i'd love to pay you for your time.
-chris
What kind of hones are you using? I am no expert but I just bought my razor not too long ago and it works great. I honed mine myself using a col conk to start the edge. I then used my norton 4000/8000 to build up the sharpness and then I used my ultrafine spyderco ceramic to finish it off. My razor is very sharp. I was sharpening one day when i was on the phone "big mistake" and it went through the end of my thumb like butter. There was no blood on the blade either. VERY SHARP... If you want i can talk with you directly. My experience is you need a nice hot wet face the right angle positioning the blade and a lot of patience.
I'm using a Norton 4000/8000, but only a strop beyond that.
I can tell you my spyderco ultrafine 12,000 really touches up the blade to where it needs to be. Mine was only $50.00
I am close over in Idaho, there are several other people up here in the NW too....
Wondering if maybe we should all get together and maybe put together a meet up????
I've not used the Nortons, but my understanding is that the 8K will not produce an edge that gives a comfortable shave. My guess is that you're doing just fine, and getting about as far as the 8K will go. I'd suggest looking into a finishing hone.
The Spyderco UF, as already suggested, would be a good option. If you'd like something cheaper, a Chinese 12K can be had for about $20 before shipping from Woodcraft. You could also go the barber hone route and grab something known to be a good finisher (I use a Swaty). The list goes on and on.
I have to dissent here. You might not get the ultimate in shaving smoothness from the Norton 8K however you should be able to still get a very good shave from it. The answer is not to get more hones. The solution is practice until you get the max that hone has to offer. I know there are some guys up in Washington. Try to contact one of them or maybe one will answer your post.
I'm about 35 south of Seattle (Tacoma) and I hone all my razors. Never used a Norton, so I'm probably not the best to help with those. Stupid question, but have you lapped the Norton recently? No doubt experienced Norton users will chime in here with more complete info for you. (I use a DMT & Belgian combo followed by CrO.)
I second the idea of a Seattle area meetup! We should try to put one together!:D
When I started with honing (about 4 months ago) I got a DMT200, and three Spydercos - Medium, Fine, and UltraFine. My plan was to bevel on the DMT and treat the Spyderco medium and fine like the Norton 400/800. I then found out you can't really do a Norton Pyramid with them and progressive honing works but takes a long time. Also that flattening a Spyderco is a pain in the ass.
My honing didn't really improve until I got one of those cheap 60-200 hand microscopes and viewed my efforts every once in a while. My blades are shaving much easier now that I can see a good clean finished edge and actually know what it feels like on the hone.
I'm all for a Seattle area shave Powwow!:tu
I changed strops and am now getting my first really comfortable, if not luxurious, shaves.
I replaced my hanging strop with a paddle strop that had red paste on one side and untreated leather on the other. I gave my razor some red paste love and then 50 good strokes on the plain side and I have gotten several successful shaves now.
UPDATE: I just checked my work under a microscope...I have a long way to go.
I'd be up for a Seattle gtg, especially as I'm going to try honing a sacrificial straight in the next couple months.
I'd be up for a Seattle gtg
Or a Tacoma one..lol
I live near Everett, about 35 miles north of Seattle, and I'd like some help learning how to properly hone. I have most of the stuff I need, I just don't have experience using it, and I have a bunch of razors I'm cleaning up that I want to be able to hone & use. Is there anyone here who lives closer to me than the Sea/Tac area?
Well i live in Seattle, have shaved with a straight for 18 years or so and have a few different stones to try. I seem to get my razor sharp enough to get a nice smooth shave ...... I have various diamond plates, a Bester 700, Bester 1200, Aoto, Blue Belgian, Kitayama, a King 8k, and a Chinese 12k. I use the Kitayama, CrO2 on a flat strop and a hanging strop for my D Duck and sharp it is! ...... A meet up sounds fun!
I am in for a Washington GTG too...I don't know when this thread started, but I am new to the whole SR thing and would love to have a meet up. I am in the Gig Harbor area, but can travel. I hope I haven't missed a GTG.
:beer2:
This is an old thread, is there anything you need help with?
No I was just interested in the members in the area. Hopefully some of them out there will see a new update and another GTG can happen or a first.
There were tentative plans for a get together in April in Portland, but if there are some folks in the Seattle-Tacoma area that wanted to get together I would be up for it.
I live near Seattle...about 20 minutes away. A local get-together would be great...even if this is an old thread. Those living in Seattle-metro area, feel free to pm me. :-)
Mac
I second the motion!
nice, that's a good one. shows what a difference learning to hone can make :)Quote:
Originally Posted by holli4pirating
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...tml#post532893
i'm a noobie just getting setup for shaving with a straight and would definitely be interested in a GTG.
anyone else in bellingham?
Yea, I wish I could erase a lot of my old posts, from back when I was extremely ignorant but didn't know it yet... Oh well, such is life.Quote:
Originally Posted by gugi
dear Folks
I would like to meet up with mentor(s) to show how to get my new straight Dovo razor so I can do the drop hair test.
been aweful shaving skins burns afterwards and shave not as close as I expected.
please help will pay for lessons.
thx
B.K.
I just replied to your other thread regarding your razor. Getting a razor to cut a hanging hair is not always the best test for shave readiness. Shaving is. And, as you are new, your skin burning is not unexpected. Also, as you are new, it is not likely that you will get a great full face shave for a few weeks or longer and you have some learning to do. Once you learn how to shave, you certainly can learn how to hone. I would bet that learning how to hone right now is not going to improve your shaving one bit. By the way your razor has been honed, and shave tested by someone reputable.........Quote:
Originally Posted by bapsdds
If you are anywhere near Missouri, come on down and I'll teach you how to hone and shave for FREE.........:)
Have fun,
Lynn
Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I agree with all above...you can get an excellent shave off your norton. While I have two 12K stones, and I like them, I will attest that they really are not needed....learn the art of honing and you can get fantastic results off the 8k.
Jon