Thread: If at first you don't succeed? Hone, hone and hone again??

Hi - just new to honing and am not sure if I'm on the right track.

My set up:

1K Naniwa
3K Naniwa
5K Naniwa
Barber hone

I think I've set the bevel - did 40 circles both ways on 1k then 10 strokes on 1k

Then did pyramid on 3K and 5K (25 strokes on start of pyramid)

Then some strokes on barber hone (5-10)
followed by strop.

Seem to get it sharp, but not enough for hht - I think it passes thumb-nail test and not sure about thumb pad test.

Just to check - if I don't get it sharp enough, do I just keep doing more pyramids until I get it up to shave ready? (That's the impression I get from the wiki).

Should I go back to the 1K?

Thanks,
Michael.

I would guess that if its not sharp now, the pyramids will get you nowhere and you should go back to the 1 k instead.
You could also try taping the back and work some more on the 8 k and the barber hone for a shortcut though.

Most responses will be based on a guess of how you have done at each stage. To take some of the guess work out of this try the following.
Tape will very slightly increase the angle of your edge and save the spine.
Start out at 1K and then take a look at the edge with a 7X or similar magnifier. This will allow you to see the edge you are creating and see if it is uniform. It will also allow you to determine when you have adequately set the edge. Once this is done you can then move on to polish the edge with your progression of stones. If you don't start out with an adequately set edge the rest of the process will not correct the deficiency and your final edge will not be sharp.

Lewis

Originally Posted by FTG

Seem to get it sharp, but not enough for hht - I think it passes thumb-nail test and not sure about thumb pad test.

Just to check - if I don't get it sharp enough, do I just keep doing more pyramids until I get it up to shave ready? (That's the impression I get from the wiki).

Should I go back to the 1K?

Hi Michael, what I do is stay on the 1k until I pass the TNT nicely. Once that is passed I will do a few more x strokes on the 1k to clean up anything the TNT may have done and move on up to the 3/5 pyramid when I am sure that the bevel is set.

As Lewis suggested magnification of some kind, eye loupe, hand held microscope, is very handy in being sure of what you have. I have had an edge pass TNT and immediately checked it with a microscope and found it was micro chipping in spots. Point being that you won't really know what is going on with it if you can't see it.

From there I don't use the TNT anymore at all. I had to take a new DE blade and use that to practice on to get the feel of the TPT. If you have a razor honed by a honemiester that you know is sharp feeling that with the thumb pad will help too.

I do the pyramids until the razor is sharp. Passes TPT and for me will pop hair on my forearm for the length of the blade. Then I strop 50 leather and at that point if you want to try the HHT give it a go.

Whether it passes or not if it will pop hair on the arm or the leg without touching the skin shave test it. Wouldn't hurt to have an 8k for further refinement of the edge but you can go back to the 5k and try 10 more light strokes if you need it in the absence of an 8k. Sometimes it takes awhile going from shave testing back to the hones to dial it in.

would you please let us know what type barber hone do you have. name etc.
you will not get comfortable shave off 5k.
you do have stone for setting bevel and more but your don't have final finishing hones.
you will need at least pastes or get 8k and 12 naniwa . in this case you should be ok.
hope this helps. Gl

I would rather not tape the spine when learning to hone, unless you wish to never learn to hone properly. When I began honing I would do the spine trick but once the edge got to thick and it would not shave real problems happened. So my 2 cents are get it sharp with no shortcuts.

Originally Posted by Memorael

I would rather not tape the spine when learning to hone, unless you wish to never learn to hone properly. When I began honing I would do the spine trick but once the edge got to thick and it would not shave real problems happened. So my 2 cents are get it sharp with no shortcuts.

lets clear up a little about taping or not taping.
if you are learning on crappy blade example zeepk's etc then i agree above statement go head hone without tape.
No you are trying to hone your blade which is daily use Please go head and tape it.
( i never recommend anyone to learn honing their original shaving blade)
The best way to buy ebay trash blade's and learn it.
hope this helps.

I agree with Buds assessment. You want to get at least an 8k hone with some pastes afterward, prolly 1 micron diamond followed by CrO if you only get an 8k. 8k followed by a 12k stone followed by CrO (dropping the diamond) would be better, in my opinion.

I can't really say much about the barber hone, I don't know alot about them. I guess if you have a swatty or another good brand you could sub it for one of the stones mentioned.

FTG,

I am also new to honing, and it seems to take a little while to calibrate the thumb pad !

I found it difficult ( still do !) to assess the edge this way while honing, so I usually finish the razor ( 8k/10k Naniwa, a CrOx pasted bench strop), strop on leather and do a shave test. I was surprised when my first razor shaved a treat despite feeling not quite sure about the TPT.

As Mr Abrams and others say, the ultimate test is the shave test.

This is what I do now, and if the razor doesn't shave well I do what Olivia suggests.

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

would you please let us know what type barber hone do you have. name etc.
you will not get comfortable shave off 5k.
you do have stone for setting bevel and more but your don't have final finishing hones.
you will need at least pastes or get 8k and 12 naniwa . in this case you should be ok.
hope this helps. Gl

I've got a Pike Swaty.

Can't afford to get another hone at the moment - so this is what I have to work with for now.

Thanks for the responses everyone - lots of learning (and patience) ahead!

I'm working on honing one of my great-grandfather's Bengalls.

My current shaver is a Bleckmann that was properly honed by Oz. (So I've still got something to use while I'm learning to hone).


All the best,
Michael.