Thread: Why isn't this working...

Originally Posted by pjrage

What would remove deep scratches from the DMT 1200 faster than a coticule with slurry? Would the Norton 4k work pretty fast for it?

See IME if you start with magnification and the TNT you will know how the edge is from jump street. You will be able to use your 1200 or whatever you are setting the bevel with no more than is absolutely necessary and therefore will not be putting more scratches and wear than is needed to set the bevel. IME a coticule or a 4k will do what it takes to sharpen the edge after the bevel is set and will remove enough scratches in the process. Removing all of them is optional IMO.

To me working without magnification is a real disadvantage as is not using the TNT until the bevel is set and the TPT thereafter. If a razor can perform HHT but can't pop hair off the arm or leg that is a mystery to me.

I tried about 350 passes with the coticule with some slurry then just water...The edge looks nice and shiny but it doesn't cut as easily as it should...I'm a bit puzzled at this point...

From reading a lot of Bart's posts, I hope I can answer that question.

There seems to be a large gap between using the coticule with slurry and using it with just water. From what I've read, the edge coming off the coticule with slurry is not as keen as the edge coming off the BBW, albeit it may be more polished. Going straight from the coticule with slurry then to using it with just water is like going from a DMT 1200 to an 8000 in one step.

The coticule with just water is more of a polisher, and you probably would benefit from using the BBW with slurry (possibly then without slurry), after the coticule with slurry to help fill that gap. Then moving to the coticule with water as a polisher after you've maxed out on the BBW.

I have read of a method of diluting the slurry on the coticule gradually so there is no need for an intermediary step, but I think just using the BBW would be easier.

I hope that made sense!

Having only been at this for a few months I still don't know for sure if the bevel is properly set. I know that without a good bevel any further polishing is pretty much useless.

I wonder how many passes people usually do on the 1200 before they get a nice workable bevel?

My original approach to this was to use the 1200 followed by the blue with slurry then the yellow with water alone. Unfortunately that didn't prove to be very successful. I still got a shave out of it but the blade didn't feel as smooth as it should be.

I ended up finishing with my dubl duck.

As far as how many passes it takes to get a good bevel...I don't think there really is a generic answer! It really depends on the razor and how close it is to having that bevel formed. You really need to develop a knack for evaluating the bevel with the TNT, or else work on all of the higher grit stones is essentially useless.

But, that said, I'm not entirely sure that the bevel isn't set on your razor. You said that the shave wasn't as smooth as it should be, but it still must shave somewhat. I somehow think that if the bevel wasn't properly set that it would just be a un-smooth shave, but very uncomfortable.

Maybe the bevel isn't set along the entire edge.

That's a possibility. I wonder if it might overhoned as well? I did a lot of work on the dmt before I moved to the belgians...?

I'm starting to regret selling my Norton 4k/8k hehe.

I tried again this morning. Still not where I want it to be. I cuts hair but not smoothly and doesn't pass the HHT like it used to. That thing would pass the HHT like a breeze and now it doesn't and only pop hair on my leg when it feels like it.

I did a bunch of passes on the blue with slurry followed by the coticule with plain water and the cro. Did about 200 passes on the leather after and still..

It is somewhat sticky to the thumb pad but not like it used to.

you say you have adouble duck that shaves. do 50 bbw slurry and 50 yellow on plain water on your double duck and you will see the shave will be smoother or the same and i bet it won't deteriate the egde at all .tnt dip your thumb in water and gently run across your tn after 1200 and wqhen ready it will grip and resistance will be felt it won't grip like that of coticule. I'd do that untill it grips and drags run from heal to toe slowly and gently run it across your cuticule on your nail.make sure black marker is being removed from bevel. once you have that drag go straight to bbw on yellow don't leave bbw untill the tpt feels smoother and not gritty once that gritty feeling has gone go yellow with water it should work. i thought i had over honed once and hitting coticule with slurry i'm sure that would take of any wire or gritty edge. that method does work i've done it several times.

I tried the marker test and it passed it fine. I checked the feeling after the DMT and the edge was pretty sticky (I even ended up cutting my thumb ) After that I tried the TNT test. I think it did okay so I did about 20 more passes on the DMT and then went to the bbw with slurry followed by the coticule with water.

The razor is sharp but doesn't really pop hair like it used to..

whats it like after stropping? does it pass hht . and is the shave smooth but not keen enough or rough and not keen enough. I have same razor it was one of my first new razors 2 years. are you in england?