Quote Originally Posted by AusTexShaver View Post
You've already got some good advice so I won't add anything other than to ask a question based on your comment about the sound changing.

Did you just remove the DMT's from the box and start honing away...or did you break them in first?
I had already lapped my Swaty stone using 40 micron 3M film, but after reading about how the DMT's work better after they're broken in, I went ahead and re-lapped my Swaty with both of the DMT's to break them in and give the swaty a really smooth surface. Now I'm thinking I was only successful at making different parts of the DMT's cut at different rates.

Quote Originally Posted by Quick View Post
(Little to no honing experience, so this is a question and not an observation or suggestion)

You mentioned that you couldn't feel any difference on the stone with your finger (and they are assumed to be flat) but that it sounds different with the blade. Wouldn't this also be the case if your stroke wasn't even? Especially if you're applying any pressure. You probably set up the same everytime (how you hold it, how you sit positioned to the stone, etc) so your stroke is probably consistent and repeatable but it may not be even through the pass. You could be pressing or lifting on the heel, apply more or less pressure at some point in the stroke, etc?. and that would result in a different sound?
That is a *very* good thought, and quite possibly exactly what was happening. I've been avoiding the area on each stone where I had the problem with the sound and draw pressure changing tonight, but tomorrow I'll check them out again... Thanks!

Man, you guys are gonna have me honing yet!

AFDavis11, I have been honing non-stop after reading your last post. I now have the very sharpest edge I've put on a razor yet. My strokes are still slow as cold mollasses, but I don't care; the blade is sharp. I know the HHT is very controversial, but FWIW, it's passing it the entire length of the blade.

Looking forward to tomorrow's shave...