GOT IT!!! Set the bevel, do the pyramid, then strop, strop & strop again!
GOT IT!!!
Light strokes, set the bevel, do the pyramid, then strop, strop & strop again!
1K Naniwa - circle strokes then x-strokes till starting to dig into thumbnail
3K / 5K Naniwa pyramids - Starting at 25 (did a couple of these), then a 20 pyramid - and blade started to lightly slice / catch thumb pad
Barber hone - originally tried dry, then water, but the 2nd time I did a 20 pyramid I just used shave stick & water - around 10 strokes
I made my strokes as gentle as possible - the blade was passing thumb pad test - starting to catch.
One thing I stopped doing was wiping water off blade when finishing up on each stone (i.e. 25 strokes on 3K, wipe, 25 strokes on 5k, wipe...)
Taking it to the next level - stropping!
What really got there - to HHT - lots & lots of stropping
First on my linen strop (home made from old pair of jeans)
Then on home-made leather strop.
Lots of light stropping got me there!
So my new honing mantra is:
Keep the strokes light, set the bevel, do the pyramid, then strop, strop & strop again!
ps If you're newer than me - 'set the bevel' just means sharpen on your 1k until it passes thumbnail test (TNT). TNT - when you lightly drag blade over thumbnail and it starts to dig in.
Anyway - I guess it has been one of those 'light bulb' moments where I finally understand.
My shave?
Before the blade was pulling on the chin hairs.
Now it cuts through softly like I'm gently brushing my chin. And I plan to get it sharper - more stropping.
Thanks for reading my excited rant!
It really can happen!!
All the best,
Michael.