Thread: Is it normal to take so long..

Is it normal to take about one thousand strokes on a norton 4k to set a bevel? I'm up near that figure and still no sharp bevel to start with..

The bevel looks good and seems fairly sharp but it can't shave sh**.

It seems to me that a single high quality stroke can be more efficient than countless poor strokes (the monkey wrench Bart talks about?.) That is what I encounter in my own honing ventures anyway. I too would like to know what a normal time is for this sort of thing!

Any question that begins "is it normal to..." is really hard to answer. In this instance, it depends on...

the particular razor, specifically the type of steel and the grind
the state of the edge at the start
amount of pressure used
probably lots of other things!

The razor is a Frederick Reynolds 5/8 that was shave ready when I got it a few weeks ago. The original owner honed the razor with tape on it. I only learned that after doing some touch up on a barber hone without tape.

I then tried my hand with my newly acquired norton 4k/8k to see if I could set the bevel without tape...

Try adding a layer of tape. It seems when it's taking a ridicolous amount of time and you know your strokes are good you probably need to change the angle by taping the spine. I always start without tape usually and especially with these vintage razors end up adding tape in order to get a good sharp edge.

I'll give it a try tomorrow!

The only way I got the blade decent was by using some 3M sandpaper. What grit would you recommend? I know 3M sandpaper differs in rating from a Norton for example.

what kind of grind are you working with? I am working on a Fredrick Reynolds as well, it is almost a full wedge and has taken a couple of hundred laps on the 1k. It has a pretty good smile to it, so I am using the rolling x stroke. I am seeing progress, but it has huge scratches all along the bevel that I am going to get out with the 1k before I move to the 4k.

I expect another 2 - 3 hours of work before this is ready to go.

Get a jewelers loupe (10x) or a microscope and keep an eye on your progress. It takes time.

It has a bit of a smile but not much it's a 5/8 hollow ground blade. I think I'm gonna get some more 3M sandpaper today and get the bevel done and then move directly to the 8k and then yellow coticule with water.

Not sure what grit of sandpaper to get though I was using some 2000 grit 3m automotive paper (I was told that it's the equivalent of a 4k water stone) I might just go with something lower this time..