Thread: Need advice after last honing bout

Ok, finally got the chip out of my dovo stainless hollow ground after TONS of light honing on a 4k norton. I honed on the 4k until the chip was completely gone. Here was my progression:

Norton 4k - billion light laps to get chip out. Was passing HHT over most of blade but not the greatest pop and some hairs wouldnt pass.
Norton 8k - Ton of laps, didn't count, just judged by the way the blade was suctioning and pushing water. No longer passed HHT unless I dragged the hair over the edge.
Chinese 12k - Ton of laps, didn't count, just judged by the way the blade was suctioning and pushing water. Same, no longer passed HHT.
Leather stop - Lots of very light passes just on the leather side. Same, no longer passed HHT.

All this was done with a single layer of tape on spline, except stropping. Now, my problem. I was expecting a really sharp edge from this by the way this thing was suctioning and pushing water so evenly. It would practically dry out the stones in one pass! Well the shave wasn't that great.

It was very weird, not really pulling on hairs but it was having a hard time cutting hairs close. It kept cutting and cutting every pass as I could see the stubble on the blade but it wasn't cutting close enough, and obviously not sharp enough. I could actually see that the hair on chin was too long after REPEATED passes.

I just don't understand these symptoms of the edge. It was smooth, didn't quite pull, but it didn't cut well either! lol. Can someone give me some suggestions? I'm really close to giving up. I thought I was pretty much on the path to learn honing, I have tried tons of times and have had more success lately, but this is really discouraging. I have all the equipment and I can't even get my own blades shave ready!

How much shaving have you done with a straight? This could be a technique issue. Even when you think you are doing everything right, it still takes patient practice.

Did you strop the razor well after honing?

Jordan

Yup, I stropped quite a bit very lightly on leather after the honing, good call I edited the original post to give the most information I can.

I've been shaving with a straight off and on for like 2 or 3 years. This razor has been honed by honemeisters twice so I know what a correct edge feels like. So I'm pretty sure it's my honing that's the problem. Maybe the clue is not passing the HHT? Idk, I even got the blade back from a honemeister and it wasn't passing the HHT well, but it shaved fine.

Take the tape off the spine and strop 100 laps on the leather again !!!
Pay attention to the spine on the strop and not the edge, push the spine don't pull the edge...
If that doesn't do it then go back to your 12K with tape, and do 50 perfect X laps, then re-strop without tape 100 laps...
It sounds like you are very very close...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Take the tape off the spine and strop 100 laps on the leather again !!!
Pay attention to the spine on the strop and not the edge, push the spine don't pull the edge...
If that doesn't do it then go back to your 12K with tape, and do 50 perfect X laps, then re-strop without tape 100 laps...
It sounds like you are very very close...

Oh yeah, i did the stropping without tape. I'll give what you said a try, yes perhaps my stropping is lacking. Arg, hope it works! lol

This is really the most frustrating time because you are soooooooo close you can smell it....
TAKE YOUR TIME don't get frustrated and push the edge.....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

This is really the most frustrating time because you are soooooooo close you can smell it....
TAKE YOUR TIME don't get frustrated and push the edge.....

Yeah,I think of myself as a logical and analytical person. I thought that would be helpful in learning to hone but it's just been really hard for me to pick up. I feel like I'm over analyzing it lol.

Here is a make ya smile story....
I can't hone a knife to save my life, I have to use those crock stick things...
No matter how I try to do it, I just can't get them right.... Razors for me are easy as pie but getting an edge on a knife drives me to drink....

Glen,
I have yet to try my hand at Razor Honing (it's coming, though!)
I can put a damn fine edge on a knife though.
If you ever want to trade knife sharpening for razor sharpening, just let me know!

Sorry for the hijack, now back to your programming.