Thread: Any honing mentors around Seattle?

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!

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!

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.