Thread: Problems setting bevel

Sounds like the edge is still thick. You probably have the beggining of a bevel, but it isn't getting the edge thin yet. Do you have a 1K grit? I hand grinded a blade down square, far beyond the bevel to take out a frown, and it took forever on a 1K to get a sharp bevel back. So long that I almost gave up. So I imagine on a 4K it would take far too long to go from square or round edge to triangle bevel.

When you set the bevel, there is a very precise sharp V formed. If you run your thumb on the edge, you will not cut it, but you will feel a hairy gritty feel to the edge. You can achieve this with 1000 grit wet and dry paper that you can purchase at Halfords. 1000, grit or 1200 grit or 1500 grit, they will all work. If you don't get the gritty feeling, you have not pressed hard enough. Usually 5 to 10 return passes are sufficient on this low grit paper.

The 4K then makes the gritty feel reduce, but the hairy feeling remains.

Same again with the 8K but the hairy feel gets finer.

The hairy feel is the grip that catches your arm hairs. No hairy feeling no gripping and cutting of the arm hairs.

If the hairy feeling goes, you have over honed or pressed to hard or put a burr on the blade and will need to go back to the 1000 grit.

If you have chromium oxide or flat bed newspaper, this will finally finish your honing by polishing the edge to a mirror shine. This polishing will make the blade edge feel smoother on your face.

Finally, to bring the edge in line, a good stropping (50 passes minimum) on leather is essential. Then, your arm hairs should cover the blade in little bits and your shave should be great. The shave gets better then after each honing.

Incidentally, after the leather honing. you should not feel the edge, but if you do, the edge should frighten you and you should feel the blade almost stick to your skin.. Re strop a few returns if you do do this.

Hope this helps.

I have 1200 grit sandpaper so i'll use that. Does it need to be wet? Does it need to be attached to glass?

I dont have ChrOx sadly.

Sandy,

There is nothing wrong with a "sensible" amount of pressure being added when creating the bevel. For ages, all I used was the 4K side of the Norton to set bevels, and I found some pressure was useful when doing so. Two hands, a bit of pressure, some circle-work occasionally.

Good luck,

James.

Circle work? Is that from the same school as this guys honing technique?

YouTube - Straight Razor Honing on a Brick (This is a joke)