Thread: Journey to the center of the hone.

Got the Norton 4k/8k today and have a couple quick questions:
1. My razor was Lynn honed quite awhile ago and isn't shaving like it used to. Should I just touch it up on the 8k side with about 6 round trips, or 1-4k and 6-8k(is that too aggressive)?

2. Secondly, do I need to prep the Norton in any way other than soaking 10 minutes prior to honing?

Originally Posted by tab75336

Got the Norton 4k/8k today and have a couple quick questions:
1. My razor was Lynn honed quite awhile ago and isn't shaving like it used to. Should I just touch it up on the 8k side with about 6 round trips, or 1-4k and 6-8k(is that too aggressive)?

This is as good a picture as I could get on current razor condition. I don't think its too bad(of course I don't know what I'm doin and could be wrong), but needs a touchup.

Well for better or worse, its done. I soaked the Norton and did
15
15
35
15
15
and then checked it in the scope. It seemed "ok", better than before but still major striations on the bevel, and still had some major looking notches at 100x magnification. Performed the overall set again, and checked again. This time the overall edge was more uniform but there seemed to be a shadow along parts of the edge...almost looked like a scorch mark or line. I assumed I may have overhoned. I immediately backhoned 3 laps on the 4k side and then performed the overall set again. This time no dark lines and the edge is looking uniform. I called it good, stropped 50 times on smooth leather, and now the beveled edge lookeds straight shiny and the brighter area looks uniform and less striated. Anyway, the shaving test will be tomorrow morning. Here's keeping my fingers crossed.

Am needing some direction on how to continue honing my razor. As you can see from my previous posts I'm VERY new to honing. My razor was not shaving as well as it had so I bought the Norton 4k/8k and did the conservative pyramid. It is now shaving worse that before starting.
I definately could feel the cutting edge of the 4k side, but the 8k was so smooth I don't know if it was having much effect.

Could I have had too much water on the 8k side?

My blade fits entirely on the hone and I've been honing with a slight angle with heel leading. Do I just need a few more 1,3 trips or should I use more 8k by itself? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thats a tough question based on the information provided. Can I assume you did
1/5
1/5 and so one, and not fifteen laps?

I would back hone on 8K to remove all the burr created earlier. Then hone using an x pattern stroke using ever so light pressure for 3 strokes, then hone on ultra light pressure for about 10-15 strokes. Ultra light being less than ever so light...so thats a touch of pressure for the first three strokes then move to an ultra touch.

Then I would strop and start feeling for a draw on the strop. I would play with it a little until I achieved draw.

I assume you don't have .5 paste, which is what I'd usually start messing with, but you need to use the x pattern soon and a light touch, but I think you've done a little damage to the edge at this point so a few extra 8k passes may help. I would suggest applying lather to the 8k and work on it for a little seeing if you can attain draw on a strop, or cut arm hairs. After you complete the actions in the first two paragraphs. So thats lather at the end of the process, which may help as the razor gets sharp.

For a beginner you can often have better results by caging the blade with you finger lightly on top of the blade to ensure it stays flat atleast for the first few iterations.

Alan's absolutely right. Overhoning or leaning on the blade while honing will not produce a shaving edge no matter how hard I try. The same goes for the strop.

X

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Thats a tough question based on the information provided. Can I assume you did
1/5
1/5 and so one, and not fifteen laps?.

Alan, sorry, yes the the process was 1/5, 1/5 etc.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I would back hone on 8K to remove all the burr created earlier. Then hone using an x pattern stroke using ever so light pressure for 3 strokes, then hone on ultra light pressure for about 10-15 strokes....but you need to use the x pattern soon and a light touch.

I've been keeping the entire blade on the waterstone the entire length, with the heel leading slightly...does this not achieve the same result ast the x-pattern?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

For a beginner you can often have better results by caging the blade with you finger lightly on top of the blade to ensure it stays flat atleast for the first few iterations.

I actually did do this during my first attempt, using a middle finger on the toe end with as little pressure as possible...probably still too much pressure being I'm new and haven't got the motion and muscles ingrained and trained.

Thanks for the help, I'll perform the steps you outlined and give feedback on results..

I started honing like you did, Tom with the whole blade on the hone, but I do find te x pattern works better. Superfly did an animated gif of it. You should be able to see it here.

X