Thread: Dilemma: Learning to Hone on Ebay Special

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Freedom of Choice is a b*tch some times.....

lol, aint that the truth.

The only thing I'd add to the excellent advice already here, is to not over think it.

From the first time I asked people what hones I should get, to when I finally bought my first set of hones was about 3 months. In the end, the deciding factor for which hones I got was a really good sale.

I don't think you can go wrong, as long as you stick with a "known" hone. Whether you change to the full norton set (only $115 at amazon), add a naniwa for bevel setting, a shapton, or even a DMT1200. All of them have been used to great success by a TON of people around here.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Okie Dokie Pokie, lets do some counting....
Two solutions to your problem
Easiest is buy a 1k stone
If you are going to continue to buy e-bayers and fix them up then complete the Norton set with the 220/1k
Any 1k will get you there though....

If this is going to be your only attempt at this, then do 20 laps on the DMT 325 and learn the circle technique that Lynn showed down in NC it is playing on the webcast right now....

Thanks! I'm glad I have options. I don't envision that I will be honing a whole lot of razors so I think I will try again this time with 20 laps on the DMT 325 and see where that gets me. I'll let everyone know how this goes.

I still may get a 1K stone because I do like the idea of picking a few more Ebay razors to practice on.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I think Glen pretty much covered it. But I would like to emphasize one of the things he has already said. Put some tape on the spine of your razor and do 20 laps on your DMT. If that wont set a bevel, I dont know what would. Hopefully you have already broken in the DMT.

So I started out with 20 laps on the DMT 325 last night without any noticeable results. I then proceeded to do another 20 laps on the DMT followed by an aggressive pyramid on the Norton and still nothing. I started to get a little frustrated and started doing circles first on the 4K side of the Norton and then on the DMT, which still did not seem to make a difference.

I then took a real good look at the bevel and noticed for the first time that the bevel was uneven, almost non-existent in the middle of one side of the blade. I assumed that meant the bevel still had not been correctly set so I continued doing laps on the DMT. I did maybe somewhere between 50 to 75 laps, periodically checking to see if the bevel was setting in the middle of the blade, which it was not.

About to give up in frustration, I decided to try taping the spine with 1 layer of black electrical tape and give it one more round of laps on the DMT. After I was done I ran the bottom 3rd of the blade across the top of my wrist, which immediately started catching and then cutting my hairs. The bevel still did not appear to be set in the middle of the blade so I did a few more laps on the DMT before calling it a night. The top and bottom 3rd of the blade now cut arm hair but it appears that the middle of the blade still has a ways to go.

When I removed the tape from the spine I noticed considerable wear on certain areas, especially around the heel and toe. I cannot say for sure how much was there before and how much was caused by me but I'm guessing that the hone wear was contributing to some of my difficulties.. Does anyone have additional tips or suggestions on how I should approach this blade (considering my basic equipment setup)? I definitely want to make sure I'm headed down the right path. I thinking it also would be wise for me to pick up a couple more old razors to practice one.

Also, I want to thank everyone for their input to my initial post!

Squash, a DMT 325 is good for lapping your Nortons and maybe removing extreme chips but I wouldn't use it for setting a bevel. A DMT 1200 or a 1k waterstone would be a better option.

To me any inexperienced honer is best off taping the spine until you feel confident in your honing. When you feel you know what you are doing than make the tape or no tape decision.

First you should use the marker test to determine what type of stroke you need to make contact with the blade across the entire edge. Sounds like a rolling x of a 45 degree angle to the hone may be in order for your blade.

Remember that statement up above where I said luck of the draw????

The good news is when you get this one sorted out I promise you will get a good shave and a huge sense of accomplishment...

Leave the one layer of tape on and keep it on the 325 until you get a bevel from heel to toe don't switch until the bevel is sharp don't cheat you will not catch back up later.... as the tape wears out keep replacing it. and stay with 1 layer through out the honing process take the tape off before you get on the strops...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes I would think so, there are tons of options at the below 1k level including sandpaper.... I don't really think what you are doing down at the level could really be called honing myself, that is edge reconstruction once the edge is "reconstructed" to a < then you can begin actual honing at the 1k level with a nice, smooth, sharp, even bevel....

No Sandpaper Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






Lynn

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Remember that statement up above where I said luck of the draw????

The good news is when you get this one sorted out I promise you will get a good shave and a huge sense of accomplishment...

Leave the one layer of tape on and keep it on the 325 until you get a bevel from heel to toe don't switch until the bevel is sharp don't cheat you will not catch back up later.... as the tape wears out keep replacing it. and stay with 1 layer through out the honing process take the tape off before you get on the strops...

Yup, you were right

Good to know that I'm on the right track, I'll keep everyone posted on my progress!

Originally Posted by Lynn

No Sandpaper Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






Lynn

LMAO Oh yeah Lynn "Loves" to re-bevel sandpapered razor edges honest he loves them