Honing issues continued

I posted about some honing problems earlier, but can't even find my own thread.
Anyways, I posted about using a Naniwa 1k to set a bevel, followed by a coticule, then an Escher. I was trying the dilucot method and getting a razor that could pop hairs off my arm, really pop them, but wouldn't pass HHT, and more importantly, wouldn't shave.
I'm in the same place. Same wapi. It has even bevels on both sides, one is a little bigger. I still can't get this razor shaving.
I think JoeD suggested that I try to dilute more slowly and then do 100-300 laps on a coticule with just water before moving on to the Escher. I tried this and still, the razor is in the same place. It really really pops arm hairs but won't shave.
Does anyone have any more suggestions about where to go from here? I hope I haven't left out any necessary info, but I can always post it if you ask questions.
I'm trying to stick to this coticule. Naniwas are second on my list of purchases that I'm going to make, so I just want to learn this while I wait for those.
Thanks

Were you able to shave arm hairs straight off the 1k? If yes, keep going with the coti. As you progress with the slurry and dilute it, you should be looking for the sticky sharp to fade and be replaced with a smooth sharp - that's the edge being refined. If no, your bevel wasn't full set. Also, you should be able to shave straight off the coti, so don't bother going to the Escher if you can't do that or else you're just spinning your wheels.

If you don't have it dialed in before you come up to the meet, we can play with it then. I used to go from a King 1k to the coti with slurry, so maybe I'll remember something...

In his 9 part video series heavydutysg pointed out that fellows who sent razors to him because they couldn't get their razors sharp usually had an inadequate bevel set. The fact that it easily pops hairs would indicate sharpness to me though. It goes without saying that you've successfully honed other razors to shave ready and that you don't have shaving technique issues ? IOW, based on past performance honing and shaving this is not the usual occurrence ?

Do you have magnification to check the bevels and see if they are chip free, not overhoned and breaking down ?

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Were you able to shave arm hairs straight off the 1k? If yes, keep going with the coti. As you progress with the slurry and dilute it, you should be looking for the sticky sharp to fade and be replaced with a smooth sharp - that's the edge being refined. If no, your bevel wasn't full set. Also, you should be able to shave straight off the coti, so don't bother going to the Escher if you can't do that or else you're just spinning your wheels.

If you don't have it dialed in before you come up to the meet, we can play with it then. I used to go from a King 1k to the coti with slurry, so maybe I'll remember something...

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It seems to cut arm hairs smoothly. I don't think it was doing it this well before I went to the dilucot, but I figured that was ok, since the dilucot is supposed to set a bevel anyways. Bart says in some thread/video that if your razor isn't shaving after a dilucot honing, you can at least be pretty certain that it has a good even bevel that just needs touch up work.
I think that's where my razor is, but I can't figure out what the touch up work would be. I'm definitely bringing this to the meet so you can take a look.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

In his 9 part video series heavydutysg pointed out that fellows who sent razors to him because they couldn't get their razors sharp usually had an inadequate bevel set. The fact that it easily pops hairs would indicate sharpness to me though. It goes without saying that you've successfully honed other razors to shave ready and that you don't have shaving technique issues ? IOW, based on past performance honing and shaving this is not the usual occurrence ?

Do you have magnification to check the bevels and see if they are chip free, not overhoned and breaking down ?

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This has been my main honing razor. I haven't really honed much other than this one actually, but the few others I've had have gotten decent bevels (from what I can tell) that also pop hairs easily. This is the first time that I'm really trying to push past bevels all the way to shave ready.
I've touched up one razor a few times and it worked well, though (but that's pretty easy I'm sure).

As for magnification, I do have one so I'll take a look at the edge and report back with what I find.

Now that I'm done with school (including finals), I have all the time I want to dedicate to learning this.

Ah. Sounds like the bevel is most likely set, then. I suppose keep going with the coti. I have found that I've done well spending more time with a light slurry as opposed to using a heavy slurry, but given that there is a fair bit of variation from coti to coti, this is really the area where you have to play with yours and see how she cuts. To me, it's a case of - the general method to use with a coti is straight forward, but figuring out how to get the best out of yours takes time and experience.

As Dylan says, takes time and experience. The coticule method can be time consuming. That is why I like to do the TNT as the first proof (besides visual under magnification) that I've got it where I want it. Once I pass TNT , firmly and smoothly, I can move along, still on the 1k, to trying the TPT and shaving hair on the leg or arm. When I'm satisfied with those I will move up to sharpening with a higher grit. I really like to examine the edge with magnification along the way. I had an edge that passed TNT and shaved hair and when I looked at it with the 30x loupe I saw chipping here and there. Had to start at square one. Anyway, check it out with the loupe and best of luck with it.

One other thing it could be,, But I know ya don't want to hear it...

The Wapi:

Some of the Wapi's around the 3rd -4th honing just lose their edge period, I have actually seen the heels on some bacically just break away...
You might want to just set it aside until you get to the meet and all of you guys take a good look at the steel...

Sorry :(