Thread: Leo's Daddy Learns to Hone (picture heavy)

Good day, fellas!

So here's the deal. I'm going to learn to hone now. I don't care if it takes me a freakin' year, I'm going to do it. And, being the man I am, I'm going to share my honing agony with everyone in the hopes that I can save you a mistake or two of your own (cuz I'm likely going to make them ALL).

Here we go! Honing, DAY 1.

Materials:

Leo's natural BBW/Coticule combo from Ardennes. For the record, I also have a Norton 4K/8K that I might switch to later if I need it...:





The Emerald Wapienica razor, originally honed by Maximilian. Prior to this saga, Junior the Barber told me the razor was dull, and I had noticed some pulling when shaving, so I agreed. Razor could still pass the arm hair test, though:

part 2...

Hairs from muh head:


Sadly bald inner arm from repeated arm-hair-shave-testing:


Starting with the BBW side (water only so far):


Slurry is ON!


Here is part of my first x-stroke - I started out going sideways (fool!)

part 3...

...then switched to vertical when I realized horizontal wasn't comfortable:



I thought I was doing pretty well - the slurry seemed to be moving against the razor nice and uniformly:



So I did 25 laps on the BBW, and tested the head hair: nope, failed the HHT. Although, I will admit - I've NEVER met a razor that was able to cut my hair on the HHT. Either I have bionic hair, or I am doing the test incorrectly. How hard could a HHT be?!? Oh, it also failed the arm hair test now - WHOOPS!

So I did another 10 laps, then figured screw it, I'm switching to the coti side, water only:



After a few strokes, I noticed something felt better when I led slightly with the point of the razor, so I kept doing that:


I ended up doing about 35 laps on the coticule, and noticed the edge was getting visibly shinier, and felt smoother on the stone, so I quit and went to the strop...

part 4...

I've got two strops - a Tony Miller Latigo and Linen, and another one made by some dude I forget now who used the seatbelt from a NASCAR vehicle and some super-thick leather. The TM is the one on the left:



And finally, on to my SOTD! For consistency's sake, I decided I'm going to work with Kiss My Face lavender and shea until I figure the honing thing out. One razor, one cream.


I finished with Witch Hazel only.

So, at the end of all this, here are the results of Honing Day 1:
1. Failed the HHT at all points of honing
2. Failed the arm hair test at all points
3. Looked visibly shiny after the coti
4. THE SHAVE: Glided smoothly over my face, did WTG/XTG/ATG as usual, but only removed about half the hair I normally do. Very smooth shave, apparently not very sharp.

So I actually dulled the razor even more with the BBW/Coti combo today. D'ohh!! I believe I made the edge smoother, though. So maybe that's a start.

OK, fellas, please help. Look at the photos, ask questions if you need to, but whatever you do, please say SOMETHING and help me out. I don't have anyone here to teach me this, and aside from videos, I'm on my own.

Thanks!!!

Glad to see you giving it a shot. I'm planning on trying eventually, as soon as I can work up the nerve to touch my beautiful Red Point to the barber's hone in my apartment. I might have to pick up the Norton combo sometime too. I hope you have lots of luck with your honing adventure.

Drew

Looking @ the pics in part 3 it looks as if the blade is not flat on the stone.

All I can say is Thank You for taking the time on doing this, as I will be starting to learn how to hone soon (naniwa 5k/8k combo and Chinese 12k as Xmas present), it will be very helpful!

Greg, that was exactly, EXACTLY, what happened to me the first time I tried it. I found that I needed to spend more time building keennes on the BBW. Apparently, passing the HHT off the BBW with slurry is not the easiest...

and it takes a few more passes to get there, too.

I hope Bart chimes in, he ist ein expert.

Do you know if the person to hone the razor before you (Max?) used tape?
If he did, now you are resetting a bevel whit no tape, this can take longer time than what you spent on the hone.

Tape has never been used on any of my razors except the Aquanin American, which was originally honed by Bart, and re-honed by Aquanin when he was annoyed to find that Bart had used several layers of tape.

I have no experience either way, tape or no, so I have nothing to add to that.

Jim: Seriously considering shopping for a DMT D8E or D6EF... I loved the coti finish, but do not have the patience for slow bevel creation, I think... and there's something about wearing away and having to maintain the Norton that ****es me off. Wish I had known about that before I bought it - bad enough having to maintain the razor without having to maintain the hone!!