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  1. #1
    Leo's Daddy IndianapolisVet's Avatar
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    Default 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:

    Last edited by IndianapolisVet; 12-01-2009 at 12:45 PM.

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  3. #2
    Leo's Daddy IndianapolisVet's Avatar
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    Default

    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!)


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  5. #3
    Leo's Daddy IndianapolisVet's Avatar
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    Default

    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...

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  7. #4
    Leo's Daddy IndianapolisVet's Avatar
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    Default

    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!!!

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  9. #5
    Straight Shaver Apprentice DPflaumer's Avatar
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    Default

    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

  10. #6
    what Dad calls me nun2sharp's Avatar
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    Default

    Looking @ the pics in part 3 it looks as if the blade is not flat on the stone.
    It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled. Twain

  11. #7
    Senior Member Mandrake's Avatar
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    Default

    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!

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  13. #8
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimR's Avatar
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    Default

    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.

  14. #9
    I used Nakayamas for my house mainaman's Avatar
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    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.
    Stefan

  15. #10
    Leo's Daddy IndianapolisVet's Avatar
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    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!!

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