Thread: Well...I guess I didn't make it duller!

So, I got a Double Arrow (two, actually) off the 'bay (one of them is so misaligned that it hits the scales an inch into the blade...I'll leave that one for a while).
The one I decided to give a shot at honing could cut hairs if I pushed hard, and half-tore the hair with the edge. I got razor burn on my forearm when I did this.
Norton 1K: Set the bevel with around 20 light pressure strokes, looked at it under a loupe, saw that the bevel was already well established, but pretty rough. Hot it around 20 more times with light pressure, then maybe 10 with REALLY light. Just about passes the TNT at this point
Norton 4K: Approx. 25 strokes going from light pressure to blade weight only. TNT is now passed easily. Razor will cut hairs JUST SLIGHTLY BETTER than at the beginning. Still ripping more than cutting.

Full Aggressive pyramid at this point. TPT feels pretty good, not great. Another Aggressive, went through the first 4 levels. Now the TPT feel quite good, and it shaves hair off the forearm and the back of the hand pretty smoothly.

Conservative pyramid...went through it almost to the end, and stopped "feeling" any improvement. Shaving arm/hand hair feels really nice.

Chinese 12K: ABout 50 laps. Blade is pretty shiny now...arm/hand hair feels good...but I have very soft arm/hand hair and a rough beard...so the test in the morning will be the only one that matters.

Still doesn't pass the HHT. Doesn't even feel close, actually. Don't know which of these steps I would have needed to do more of to get it there.

Morning shave: Well, it cuts hair. It isn't comfy like a professionally honed blade, though. My neck and cheeks didn't come smooth, and without a nice smooth blade, I am scared to do ANOTHER ATG pass, I think it would tear me up. So I touch up the worst spots, rinse, use some Alum block in case of irritation, splash on some Iced lime, and check out my work.

Well, definitely not the worst shave I've gotten since I started with Straights. Sure, it's not the closest, either. But you know what, I feel like I earned it. Like skiing so-so terrain after you climbed the mountain yourself. Or driving the POS that you bought yourself by flipping burgers in High School.
Now...I don't need to hone every day...how do I get better? If I only hone once a month, how do I learn the subtleties that will help me get the smoooothness that I have seen from guys who have done this for a while?

Anyway, I can't imagine anyone has actually read this whole thing, if you have, thanks for listening (reading?)

The thing I noticed is that you said after the 1k it just about passed the TNT. You should be absolutely passing the TNT before moving on to the 4k and up. The 1k is your bevel setter and if it's not passing the TNT entirely it's not a good bevel.

I'd go back and do a little more work setting that bevel before you move up. I don't know much about the Norton's but it sounds like you've got a good routine, just keep practicing.

I hear the double arrow can be brought up to a pretty good shaver unlike some of the other 'Bay stuff.

I didn't think I'd hone a lot in the beginning but it grows on you. You need to gain the muscle memory and the best way to do that is to keep on honing. You'll be shaving with that bad boy in no time.

Thanks for the advice. I'll hit it again tonight, spending more time on the 1K this time.
I have a Double Arrow from KenRup, which was my first straight. It is actually one of my best shavers. That is testament at more to his ability than the razor's quality, though. I assume.

I love sharpening stuff, have been doing my knives for years. I know this is different, but I look forward to gaining some proficiency!

In addition to passing TNT off a 1K, you should be able to cut hairs off your arms easily.

Hmmmm....that really solidifies it. Much more work to be done on that 1K.
I wouldn't think I'd have gotten even the results I did off the 8K and 12K if my owrk on the 1K was insufficient. Well, it is clear I don't knwo what I'm doing. I guess I'll get my nose back to the grindstone!
I'll report back after tomorrow's shave.

SmokeLaw, my only comment is...this is in the NEWBIES forum??? Oh dear Lord, I don't know that I'll grasp a single syllable of the "Advanced" forum!

Seriously, good insights!

LOL, yeah, this was my first attempt at Honing. I am a honing newb.
It gets WAY more in depth!
The basics are surprisingly simple...though as you can see....still not easy.

I assume you know that once it passes TNT do not repeat it but utilize the TPT. Sounds like it from what you wrote. When cutting hair from the arm or wherever the blade shouldn't touch the skin. It should be sharp enough to pop hairs with the blade suspended over the skin. IME the HHT is more likely to be successful after stropping and it isn't necessary to get to that level to get a good shave. Nice if you do but not necessary.

When setting a bevel you can use a bit more pressure if you have a ways to go and lighten up as you get there. I would try the aggressive pyramid and get to the popping hairs stage and then strop and shave. Sometimes I have had to repeat the aggressive pyramid more then once or twice before I got to where I wanted to be.

OH! It was definitely NOT popping hairs off the arm without touching the skin! It shouldn't be doing that after 1K, though, right, that would be a sign I was pretty close to done, I would think! I absolutely have more work to do on it. I'm going back to the 1K tonight, then will do two Aggressives.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

OH! It was definitely NOT popping hairs off the arm without touching the skin! It shouldn't be doing that after 1K, though, right, that would be a sign I was pretty close to done, I would think! I absolutely have more work to do on it. I'm going back to the 1K tonight, then will do two Aggressives.

Thanks!

Personally I don't worry about the popping hairs until I get in to the 4/8 pyramids. TNT off the 1k for me and then I go to the 4/8 and work to get the TPT.

When I have got that I work some more to get to hair popping. If you hone enough you will stop popping hair off of your arms and go to your legs. I ran out of hair on my arms before too long.

Randydance suggested to me to use the TPT in conjunction with the TNT while bevel setting to learn the feel of it. Also and most importantly to take a new single or DE blade and TPT that as well to learn what a sharp edge feels like under the thumb pad. Worked well for me.