Thread: Touch up honing question

Hi, I've been into straight shaving for about 1 month now (about 15 shaves). I've got my "restored" razor from Kenrup and it was shave ready, well after about 100x strops it really was.

Even if I was able to get pretty conformable shave with it, I was not 100% satisfied of it. Even if I was able to pop hair with it, I decided to give it a go on the 4k/8k Norton to refine the edge.

I've done about 10 laps on the 4k, and then about 20 laps on the 8k. The finish of the egde was then more miror like than before honing it and even more than when I got my razor.

I've read pretty much about honing and it seems that we should be able to pop a hair directly out of the 8k, or even with the 4k.

I don't have much experience with honing, but out of my 8k, I was far from passing the HHT!!! It took about 50 laps on the pasted strops and then about 150 laps on the strops without paste to be able to pop a hanging hair again.

So here is my concern, is there any expert out here that can tell me if HHT is possible to achieve directly out of the 8k without stopping?

I have to say that I didn't test it yet with a real shave, so I can't say if it's better or worst since I honed it.

Would a Naniwa 12k in combination with the 4k/8k Norton would be a good combination? Would I really achieve a better egde with the 12k?

Pat.

The HHT test can be highly subjective. Perhaps you should check out this wiki page on it for a more formulized version of it: Hanging Hair Test, from trick to probing method - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

When I do the HHT, I can get hairs to pop off of the 8k. But just because you can't get it work does not mean that it's not shave-ready. The HHT can be quite useful IMO, but it still depends on the type of hair that's used when performing the test, as hair types is quite variable from person to person. If honed properly, the razor will be quite shave-ready off of the 8k, so that would be a more reliable test.

In answer to you question about the naniwa 12k: I don't have that stone, but I quite sure it would be a notable improvement over the norton 8k. I have read many posts about the naniwa 12k lately, and I've read nothing but glowing reviews. So if you were looking for a higher grit stone than the 8k, that should be more than sufficient to fulfil your needs. But I would focus more on getting that good shave off of the 8k first, as going to the 12k before it is truly ready off the 8k is wasting your time IMO.

I agree with Dave about the HTT. My new Lynn-honed Dovo wouldn't pass the HTT fresh out of the box, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Same here. I thought wow lynn sharpened it and i cant get a hanging hair test done but the shave was good so I dont worry about the HHT so much either. as long as it shaves

I did a real shave test this morning, I would say the shave was the same as before I honed it.
I'm a bit disapointed because I would like it be more sharp to get a more confortable shave. Maybe the soap I use is not the best, I use eshave and it tends to dry pretty fast.

For the next honing time I will do some more laps on the 4k and 8k.

Since you are fairly new to honing, I strongly recommend that you try the pyramid honing strategy. With continual testing, it will help insure that you don't overdo your honing. Try a conservative pyramid and then test shave again.

Originally Posted by pdube1

Would I really achieve a better egde with the 12k?

I bought the Chinese 12K from Woodcraft, which is my final polisher after a Swaty hone. What I noticed (at least for me) is that the additional level of polish results in less irritation. I can do a good job right off the Swaty, but going ATG always gives me a little burn. So I've become very attached to my polishing stone.

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

The HHT can be quite useful IMO, but it still depends on the type of hair that's used when performing the test, as hair types is quite variable from person to person.

+1 on that. On my coticule honed razors, hair from the top of my head won't pass HHT, but my goatee hair does.

-Chief

Originally Posted by pdube1

I did a real shave test this morning, I would say the shave was the same as before I honed it.
I'm a bit disapointed because I would like it be more sharp to get a more confortable shave. Maybe the soap I use is not the best, I use eshave and it tends to dry pretty fast.

For the next honing time I will do some more laps on the 4k and 8k.

You may want to finish on a coticule or Chinese 12K after the 8K Norton.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I agree with Dave about the HTT. My new Lynn-honed Dovo wouldn't pass the HTT fresh out of the box, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

I would be amazed if any popped hairs out of the box. I ship them coated in Camellia oil.......... I'm not too much a fan of the HHT in any case.

The Naniwa Super 12K after the 8K is really good, but a lot of personal preference here. Lately just for S&G's, I've tried to go to a Barber Hone after the 8K for 10 strokes and I am seeing some decent results. Not decent enough to switch off the Super 12K though. The Coticule, Escher, Thurningen, Nakayama or Chinese 12K will work too. All are just a matter of getting used to how many strokes and some fine tuning (additional few strokes to dial them in) with consistency.

Have fun,

Lynn