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  1. #1
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    Question Beginner Questions

    Hello, I purchased a new 1/2 hollow Dovo blade and it stated that it came honed and there was no need to do anything extra. All it needed was stropped and used. I'm new to straight shaving and for a hone, I purchased a shapton 16k. I have a few questions:

    1. Should I pick up the 4K and 8K shapton's
    2. If I pick them up, can I follow the Norton pyramid with them
    3. Do I need to pick up the Diamond on Glass Lapping Plate or the Diamond Reference Lapping Plate Lapping Systems : Shapton® Stones, Shapton® Sharpening Systems
    4. Are you suppose to use the powder for lapping plate when lapping as shown on the link above
    5. If my razor likely needs touched up, is it worth while for me to send my razor out to a honemeister or just take a few paths across my 16K following Lynn's DVD?



    I appreciate any help you can provide!

  2. #2
    Heat it and beat it Bruno's Avatar
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    1) that is up to you. The norton 4k/8k is also a good stone, and some people use the DMT8EE instead.
    2) yes. But I don't know if that is useful or not.
    3) No. A DMT8C will be just as good for what we do, at a fraction of the price. The DGLP is reportedly a very nice plate, and it is also supposed to be a bit easier to use because of the grooves in the surface. But many use the DMT8C because for what we do it doesn't matter.
    4) No.
    5) It depends. But in the long run, learning to touch up your own razor is worth the money because shipping + honing will set you back 30$ each time. If you already have a 16K, I'd say go for it. Do 10 very light strokes, strop and shave. repeat as necessary until you are satified.
    Til shade is gone, til water is gone, Into the shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath.
    To spit in Sightblinder’s eye on the Last Day

  3. #3
    Torchwood 4 Ockham's Avatar
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    Depending on where you bought it, it will not come really shave ready: if you bought it from SRD, or Classic Shaving with the mention shave ready it must be OK; if you bought it from Dovo for instance, maybe it is not really shave ready... (info here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...planation.html)

    If it is not shave ready, maybe you should think about asking somebody with experience here to hone it for you; it is a good idea to have your first straight nicely honed - also to be used as comparison when you'll honing your own. It is always worth it to send your first razor to be honed by somebody who really know how to do it, believe me.

    I think that with a Shapton 16000 you should be ok and it should be enough for touch ups - if you don't destroy your blade, nick it or else...

    If you want to hone new razors by yourself, the Shapton 16000 will not be enough, and you'll need to purchase the 4000 and the 8000 too - or a Norton 4/8K. You can follow the pyramid with any 4 and 8 K stones.
    You'll need a lapping stone to flatten your hone - even the shapton. The Shapton lapping stone is designed for that purpose, but I think that you could also buy a DMT 8C to do the job - if you are tight on money...

    I am only a beginner, so this is only my 2 cents. Surely more experienced shaver-honer will come in and give better advices.

    I hope you'll enjoy straight shaving!

  4. #4
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    Thanks for the reply Bruno and Ockham. I definitely want to learn how to hone my own razor. I have not heard of DMT before and will have to investigate. Can anyone compare their experience (if they've used both) between DMT and Shapton? Are the Shapton's worth the extra money?

  5. #5
    Senior Member Milton Man's Avatar
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    I'd email Howard at The Perfect Edge - he's a SRP member, and the go-to guy for hones, etc. He's very knowledgeable, and willing to share his honest opinions about the pros and cons for each and every hone and lapping plate.

    Best of luck,

    Mark

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  7. #6
    Heat it and beat it Bruno's Avatar
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    DMT makes diamond coated plates.
    The DMT8C is 325 grit rated, and ideal for flattening and maintaining all kinds of waterstones.
    The DMT8E is 1200 grit rated and used by some to set bevels.
    The DMT8EE is 8000 grit rated, and used by some to hone razors.

    For the DMT8E and EE you could use shapton glass hone equivalents (1000 for the E, and 4000 + 8000 for the EE). Then there is also the norton 4000/8000 combination stone, and several natural equivalents like belgian stones.
    All these combinations are useful and fit for honing razors. which one you choose depends on preference and price. None is 'better' in a measureable sense than the other, although some are easier to use.

    For the DMT8C you could use the Shapton DGLP (for the purpose of flattening stones) and they do basically the same thing. the DGLP has a grooved surface that makes it less 'sticky' when you are flattening a stone. It is also theoretically flatter than the DMT8C (surface specs are stricter).

    But for the purpose of flatening stones for razor honing, most people here (and even on the Shapton forums) think that the DGLP doesn't add value over the DMT8C.

    I should add that I don't have the DGLP, so I can only summarise the current opinions and trends.
    I have a DMTD8C and I am very happy with that.
    Til shade is gone, til water is gone, Into the shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath.
    To spit in Sightblinder’s eye on the Last Day

  8. #7
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    The DMT's are great products.

    I use them frequently because they are very consistent, easy to maintain and get the job done.

    For just touching up your razor when it gets uncomfortable to use, the 16k Shapton (or some other finishing stone) ought to be fine.

    The D8C is a great lapping plate for all the stones you could ever acquire.

    In the event of your blade incurring damage you'll need something in the 1k to 4k range to fix it, you can worry about getting more stones when it happens or send the blade out to be honed at that point; the choice is yours.

    (disclaimer: I'm not a shapton owner either (yet?), so I'd wait for someone to chime in and say they've used the 16k for touch ups before you buy it. But from all the reports, it sounds like a stone that will cut fast enough to get the job done.)

  9. #8
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    Russel, I've actually already bought the shapton 16k. It's just a matter of expanding as necessary. Since I'm not experienced, I was just wondering what everyones 2¢ is on their favorites. As usual, my mileage will vary from others experience and the only way to find out is to get them!

  10. #9
    Heat it and beat it Bruno's Avatar
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    If you've already bought the 16K, then it'd depend on the money you are willing to spend.
    The first ting I'd buy is a DMT8C for lapping it.

    Then I'd buy the 4000 and 8000 shapton
    OR
    a norton 4k/8k
    OR
    the DMT8EE

    because one of those would be needed for the actual sharpening.
    And if you are repairing edge damage, you could extend further with the 1000 grit shapton (or Norton, or DMT...)

    In your case, I think I'd get the shaptons because then you can stay with the tool you already have, no matter how fat up or down you want to go on the grit scale..
    Each stone or plate has its own feel to it, and it's own peculiarities. So staying in one line is bound to make things easier and nicer (but slightly more expensive)
    Til shade is gone, til water is gone, Into the shadow with teeth bared, screaming defiance with the last breath.
    To spit in Sightblinder’s eye on the Last Day

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  12. #10
    Senior Member kevint's Avatar
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    The powder is for the compact plate. Most people found it to be a little messy, too easy to contaminate the sharpening process with powder unless you are super diligent with washing. In the wood shop there's a lot more sharpening and lapping going on a daily basis or several times a day so the mess has a tendency to accumulate.

    I certainly would never choose the compact plate over DMT. But I would choose shapton stones over a norton every time- they break down far too quickly imho

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