New and sharp but not BBS

[mackie]

I have a razor that I really like that I have restored. I have honed it to sharpness. It shaves well but not BBS so my question is should I take it back to the begining and start over to insure the bevel is right or should I just go to about 4000 and start there.

[hi_bud_gl]

if you haven't set bevel that blade will shave you horrible. i think you bevel set already go back to 8k and make 10-15 strokes see what happens?
what any other stones or pastes do you have?

[holli4pirating]

It's not easy to tell how much more work a razor needs unless you've shaved with it, and even then it can be tough to tell. I would suggest trying like something not too aggressive (like Sham said), and you can always go back and do more if that doesn't get you where you want to go. Also, I'm not sure how much experience you have with honing, but you may or may not be able to get razors as sharp as you like on your own, so that may be a contributing factor as well. I mean no disrespect when I say that, just something to keep in mind.

[mackie]

Well I have in the past sharpened some quite well and have been shaving with them for more than thirty years. I usually go back to the coarser stone but I was wondering if it is better to do that than to just go to the 8000 and start there. I took this one back as suggested and did 30 strokes and it is not ready yet.

[holli4pirating]

Ah, sounds like it may be time to drop down to the 4k then. Are you on Nortons? Pyramids may be just what the doctor ordered.

[hi_bud_gl]

ok go 4k then and do 30 strokes on 4k then move to 8k 15-20 strokes see what happens.
if that doesn't help then you can go to 1k.gl

[JimmyHAD]

With me it seems some are just harder to get there than others. I have found it isn't unusual to run across a blade that gives me a fit trying to get it as sharp as others. It will shave but just not as good as I would like. I usually keep after it but sometimes I put it to the side and come back to it later and do another one or two instead.

[mackie]

Yes, this is the third time this has happened to me. Some of them are difficult. This one is magnetic and I was wondering if that could be it. I guess I will just start over and see what happens.

[Sticky]

if you haven't set bevel that blade will shave you horrible. i think you bevel set already go back to 8k and make 10-15 strokes see what happens?
what any other stones or pastes do you have?

I'd use black marker and Sham's idea. If it doesn't pass the marker test on 8k, go to 1k until it passes the marker and TNT at the same time.

[mackie]

The marker test is a good idea !