How do you hone a "barely dull" razor?

So, I have a Wapienica Razor that I have been using for a few months. I have been touching it up on some 0.5 chrome-ox on a filly strop when it starts to drag.
Lately though, the pasted strop will not get the razor back to being comfortably sharp. The razor really seems to drag through the ATG, but does well on the first two passes.
All i have is a Norton 4K/8K stone, and the 0.5 chrome-ox strop. I am VERY new to the honing scene, I have never successfully honed a razor, but I have tried a handful of times, on some crappy razors. I am wanting to try to touch the razor up on the hone, but I am worried about messing the edge up.

My biggest question; What kind of honing pattern, or pyramid would one use to touch up a razor, that is not quite shave ready?

I hear people mention using a 12K stone, but I do not feel like dropping the money for that right now. Can I get away with just using my 4K/8K stone?

Should I move to the chrome-ox, after the stone, to further polish the blade?

Try the 8k only first , if that does not work , then you have to go 4k and then then 8k.
the wiki has more info on how to hone.
You can search youtube for videos , there are plenty.

YouTube - Straight Razor Place '09 Convention. Lynn Honing #1

YouTube - Straight Razor Place '09 Convention. Lynn Honing #2

YouTube - Straight Razor Place '09 Convention. Lynn Honing #3

I'm not a Norton user, but you'd probably want to look @ doing a "conservative pyramid"--IIRC there's a chart in the Wiki that goes over this. If it's just starting to go dull, it's still pretty close & you don't want to overdo it. You can always go back if it's still not quite there.

Short answer: yes the Norton is technically all you need right now--finishing stones will give you a little extra, but the crox is a good cheap option for right now. Use it after the 8k.

Make sure the Norton is well lapped beforehand. You can use 3M (or another good brand like Norton) 220 grit (or thereabouts) wet/dry sandpaper on a flat surface if you don't have a dedicated lapping stone (DMT-C or equiv.) Make sure you use a good quality one though; cheaper brands can leave grit embedded in the stone you're lapping.:nono: Good luck! :beer2:

I would try 5 X strokes on the 8K side of the Norton followed by 10 X strokes with the Chromium Oxide. If it's better, but still not there, then you can repeat and see. Next I would do a 1-3, 1-5 pyramid on the Norton 4K/8K followed by 10 strokes on chromium oxide and see if that gets it there. Let us know. We can always move to a higher pyramid or more strokes.

Good Luck,

Lynn

Dustin, you've got the way to go from the main man himself. Since you've got the 4/8 and some 'crappy' razors if you watch those videos that mainaman posted you'll see how Lynn sets a bevel with the circles and goes on from there.

Take the best of your junk razors and practice some with that on the 4k before you try to touch up your Wapi. If you follow what Lynn does on the videos you might succeed in getting one of those others sharp. Wouldn't that be a cool thing ?

The Ch12k at $30 is a great bargain in my opinion

However, what you've got will suffice for a touch up - I'd say Lynn's advice of a few strokes on the 8k then a few more on the ChromOx should bring the edge back into shape!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Dustin, you've got the way to go from the main man himself. Since you've got the 4/8 and some 'crappy' razors if you watch those videos that mainaman posted you'll see how Lynn sets a bevel with the circles and goes on from there.

Take the best of your junk razors and practice some with that on the 4k before you try to touch up your Wapi. If you follow what Lynn does on the videos you might succeed in getting one of those others sharp. Wouldn't that be a cool thing ?

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That is a good Idea! but I was under the impression that I would need a Lower grit stone, like a 1000, or 220, to set a bevel? I have not checked out the videos yet so I would not know. That would be great if I could set a bevel on one of these very dull" razors with just my 4k/8k

Yikes, I tried out my Norton stone on my Wapienica. It did not go so well.

I started out by doing 6 back and forth strokes on the 8k side, then I moved to the 0.5 chromium oxide, and did 11 back and forth strokes on that, which is pasted on a hanging strop. Then I did 50 laps on a strop

My razor ended up being worse than when I started! It is frustrating. I want to practice to get better, but I end up messing up my razors, and now I have to go back to using a DE razor.

Can anyone recommend anything in this situation. I am sure it is my fault doing something wrong, and not a default in the stone or something.

I did really try to use very light strokes, doing an X pattern on the stone, and keeping it as flat as possible. I did have to use my second hand to barely hold to tip of the razor to the stone, since the heavy weight of the Wapi handle make the razor want to lean to that side.

Put a piece of electrical tape on the spine. Use a black marker to paint the edge. Do a few x strokes on your 4k. If the marker is removed from the cutting edge your stroke is good. If not you may need to modify your stroke. Sometimes a 90 degree angle is appropriate (to the hone) and other times a 45 degree or even a rolling x.

Once you figure out the stroke wipe the remaining marker off of the blade and do 30 circles with moderate pressure. First on one side and than on the other. Take a look at the bevel with the naked eye. If it is wider on one side than the other you might want to give a bit more attention to the narrower side.

Do say 10 x strokes alternating on each side and try the TNT. If it doesn't grab do more x strokes with moderate pressure. You can take your forefinger of the opposite hand and place it in the belly of the blade to help things out while setting the bevel but don't over do the pressure.

Once the TNT grabs for the length of the blade do not use that test anymore. From that point rely on the TPT. If you aren't familiar with the feel of the TPT try it with a new DE blade. It should feel 'sticky' to your thumb pad. Similarly to the TNT if it is not keen it will not grab.

Begin doing x strokes with less pressure using the pyramid method here in the SRP Wiki. Go thorough the pyramids but don't start them until you are getting a good TNT. As you progress through the pyramids lighten up on pressure until you are only using enough to keep the blade flat on the hone. If you have magnification of some sort it is good to check the bevel for chipping and flatness along the way.

A hone in the 1k range is faster for setting the bevel for sure but if a 4k is all that you have it can be done. It just takes longer.