Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Zeepk Honing

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    97
    Thanked: 11

    Default Zeepk Honing

    Before you cringe at the title I would to know how I can practice honing with a cheap razor. I've followed the tutorials here but I can never get the cheap Zeepk to pass a hanging hair test. Is this due to my lack of skill or the razor?
    I'm using a Norton 4k/8k.

  2. #2
    Shaves like a pirate jockeys's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    DFW, TX
    Posts
    2,423
    Thanked: 590

    Default

    the razor. the steel is so soft it'll never form the fine edge needed to pass HHT.

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    97
    Thanked: 11

    Default

    If this is the case should I practice on my DOVO? I'm afraid of ruining the blade but do I just have to bite the bullet and practice with it instead?

  4. #4
    Senior Member kahunamoose's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Salt Lake City, Utah
    Posts
    277
    Thanked: 47

    Default

    Don’t beat yourself over the head trying to sharpen the cheap razor. The steel just crumbles when it gets thin enough to actually be sharp. You’ll need to look at it under a microscope to see for real.

    I’d tape the spine on the Dovo and hone away. With the tape you will not inflict “hone wear” on the spine as you experiment, and you will probably create a different enough bevel angle that you will get a feel for some real sharpening/honing and you will see that it’s pretty hard to actually destroy a blade. It may take you a while to get it shave worthy, but doing it is the only way to learn. Ideally it would be nice to have a good blade honed by a Pro as a reference, but you will get it eventually by yourself if you keep at it.

  5. #5
    Shaves like a pirate jockeys's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    DFW, TX
    Posts
    2,423
    Thanked: 590

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by canyon289 View Post
    If this is the case should I practice on my DOVO? I'm afraid of ruining the blade but do I just have to bite the bullet and practice with it instead?
    yes. tape the spine. my first razor was a Dovo SS 5/8. I did a lot of spine wear learning to hone it, but no real long term damage. it's kind of scary, but the only way to really learn it is to sharpen a good razor until it is comfy to shave with. keep after it! you'll do just fine

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Glasgow, UK
    Posts
    220
    Thanked: 13

    Default

    Or you could get a cheap old one from ebay and practice on that. Just make sure its not one of the new crappy ones.

    Steven

  7. #7
    Senior Member Kenrup's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    San Antonio, Texas
    Posts
    1,271
    Thanked: 125
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Learning to hone on a junker razor my cause you to develop poor honing techniques. An inexpensive quality razor will aid in developing proper technique. There are a lot of great honing tutorials and videos available to pick up the techniques that you need to know so you won't ruin a razor. I often have razors sent to me that the owner tried to hone and did not achieve a satisfactory edge. I often find uneven wear on the spine or bevel that I believe may be caused by frustration. Should you become frustrated when honing. Lay it aside until you can approach it again objectively. Developing a good honing technique takes time, patience, and objectivity. It is very satisfying to finally achieve a shaving edge from your own efforts.

  8. #8
    what Dad calls me nun2sharp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Kansas city area USA
    Posts
    9,172
    Thanked: 1677

    Default

    Buy a double arrow from stamps222 on ebay, its a cheap 10$razor, but at least its honable(new word for wiki?). Save the DOVO!
    Last edited by nun2sharp; 12-17-2008 at 03:04 PM.
    It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled. Twain

  9. #9
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Kenrup View Post
    Learning to hone on a junker razor my cause you to develop poor honing techniques. An inexpensive quality razor will aid in developing proper technique. There are a lot of great honing tutorials and videos available to pick up the techniques that you need to know so you won't ruin a razor. I often have razors sent to me that the owner tried to hone and did not achieve a satisfactory edge. I often find uneven wear on the spine or bevel that I believe may be caused by frustration. Should you become frustrated when honing. Lay it aside until you can approach it again objectively. Developing a good honing technique takes time, patience, and objectivity. It is very satisfying to finally achieve a shaving edge from your own efforts.

    +1 I agree here that honing an e-bay junker to shave sharp is not the easiest thing to do for a new guy.... I think Ken is dead on here get an inexpensive Dovo etc: and take it nice and slow...

    The other thing you can do is send the e-bay razor to one of us and ask us to only set the bevel and not to do the final sharpening, that way you can sharpen your own razor with confidence that the bevel was set correctly....

    Just some thoughts

    Now too practice a bevel set the Zeepk will work, but so will a low priced named steel razor off e-bay and with enough work you might end up with a shavable razor where the Zeepk etc: will never be a shaver...

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •