Thread: Newbie and Honing

I have been shaving for about eight months. I have two TI 6/8" high carbon singing blades and one TI 6/8" Grelot which I believe is stainless steel. I am currently using a Belgium yellow coticule stone on the singing blades with ok results however, I just cannot seem to acquire the edge I had when I first purchase the razors. Because the Grelot is fairly new I have not honed it yet. BTW, I strop at least 30 times prior to shaving with all razors.

I have studied various articles and watched You Tube for the correct way to hone. Are there better methods and stones for sharpening these blades? I am trying to avoid sending them out as I would really prefer to learn myself - not to mention the length of time involved when shipping the razors out. I appreciate any advise or recommendations.

Thanks much,

Chris

You probably just need to lighten up a little on the pressure on the honing in general and especially at the end of the session. Are you making a slurry first? I understand that is another key.

X

It seems to me the trick is to have a balance motion and pressure each stroke. I tried it again tonight and I'll see the results with my morning shave. I think you're right, I may have been using too much pressure. I do use a slurry.

BTW, should I wait a certain amount of time to strop the blade after honing. I did not seem to find anything on that in the literature I read.

Thanks for the reply Xman.

Chris

Strop after honing, then shave. Thats what I do.

Honing is a learned skill. Perhaps an art form. Don't be discouraged. However, getting one professionally honed will give you a good idea of what the finished product is supposed to look/feel like.

Need a little bit more info here:

Here are some assumtions I am making, please correct any that I am wrong about...

You bought the Singing razor and either had it honed or bought it honed, you have now shaved with it for 8 solid months with only stropping to keep it up and running... You then added the Gerlot at sometime in that 8 months again buying it ready to shave and it is now also ready to be honed????

You bought a yellow coticule to re-fresh these razors??? what size???
did you ever re-fresh the razors????

Now both razors are ready to be honed as they are pulling????

How am I doing????

I second Glen.

In order to help out, we need to know in detail what you are doing.

1.The status of the razors:
Were they professionally honed before?, or put otherwise: Do they have a correct bevel?
How far has the edge drifted from original sharpness?

2. Have you ever used slurry on that Coticule? or have you only been honing on it with water? (makes a big difference in the advice you need to get)

3. Have you lapped your hone?

4. Are you using an X-stroke? Pressure? How many laps.

5. etc...etc...

Best regards,
Bart.