Thread: Dissapearing Edge

Group,

This has happened to me a couple of times. I will hone a razor and the frist shave is just incredible - like a laser. I clean and oil the blade, come back a couple of days later and the razor pulls like it could use a touch up on the 12k.

Has anybody had this happen? Is it possible that I never really got them shave ready to begin with or maybe some how I trapped moisture on the edge and it degraded?

Thanks for any input.

David

What stones are you using ???

That happens to me too! And I don't know why either. I thought it might be my stropping and my strop (it needs replacing), I also thought it was a perspective thing too because the razors actually shave fine if I don't scrutinize them.

I'm looking forward to hearing others' thoughts on this.

If you have a decent loupe or microscope I would go back and take a serious look at the edge and see whats going on with it. Sometimes I get an edge sharp and when I shave with it, it will fall apart due to inclusions(air pockets) in the metal.

...and you'd probably get different diagnosis if the razor is vintage vs. new.

sounds like a good chance that it's basically "too sharp"

Originally Posted by kevint

...and you'd probably get different diagnosis if the razor is vintage vs. new.

sounds like a good chance that it's basically "too sharp"

my suspicion too, way too sharp leads to rolling or micro chipping after one shave.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

What stones are you using ???

Hi Glen,

I am using 1k, 5k, 8k and 12 k Naniwas, followed by stropping.

David

I spent time with Lynn learning to hone. I took these notes and am using this progression. I normally get very good results with it. I had not thought about overhoning the razor, but that is what makes the most sense right now.

BTW, I am using a SRD Premium IV strop.

Bevel Setting
Stone: 1,000 grit or similar
Sequence: 40 Heavy Pressure Circles – each side
10 Heavy Pressure X Strokes
Test: Repeat Sequence until Pocket Knife Sharp
Look for Thin, Even, Straight line along Edge – this is the bevel

Honing
Step: 1
Stone: 5,000 grit or similar
Sequence: 40 Heavy Pressure Circles – each side
40 Light Pressure Circles – each side
5 -10 Light Pressure X Strokes
Test: Repeat Sequence until Cuts Arm Hair Readily
Do Thumb Pad Test to Check Edge

Step: 2
Stone: 8,000 grit or similar
Sequence: 5 -10 Light Pressure X Strokes
Test: Repeat Sequence until edge passes Thumb Pad Test

Step: 3
Stone: 12,000 grit or similar
Sequence: 5 -10 Light Pressure X Strokes
Test: Repeat Sequence until edge passes Thumb Pad Test

Step: 4
Stone: Hard Felt with .5 micron Diamond Spray
Or Balsa Strop with .5 micron Cro-Ox
Or Fabric Strop with .5 micron Cro-Ox
Sequence: 10 Light Pressure X Strokes
Test: Repeat Sequence until edge passes Thumb Pad Test

Stropping
Strop: Your Choice
Sequence: 60-80 strokes
Test: Repeat Sequence until edge passes Thumb Pad Test
Honing Notes:

1. Heavy Pressure Circles and Heavy Pressure X Strokes means just that – the table shakes when Lynn does them.
2. Light Pressure X Strokes use just the weight of the blade and enough pressure to keep the blade flat.
3. During the Circle Strokes, keep the blade moving up and down the length of the stone
4. Keep the length of the stone perpendicular to your body.
5. Memorize what the Thumb Pad Test feels like for a Pocket Knife Sharp blade and following each successive sequence.
6. Lift your honing hand elbow to help keep the blade flat on the stone
7. Listen for unevenness in your strokes as the blade travels the stone
8. Watch the water pool carefully as the blade makes strokes on the stone. The pool should be even across the length of the blade and travel with the blade. Then you know you have even pressure and the blade is perfectly flat on the stone.
9. Lynn only uses tape on Damascus and Gold washed spines.

Your not doing anything wrong,


The razor, and the condition that the razor's edge started at, would play a huge part here...
That is something only you can determine..

I really thought you were overhoning too, when I first read the post this morning but unless you are using way way too much pressure on the high grits I don't see that now...Perhaps backing off the circles on the 5k depending on how the razor feels, drop out the circles, and up the lap count...

Also IMHO there is no such thing as "too sharp" There is "dull", there is "sharp", there is "shaving sharp" and there is "over honed"

Backhoning is not a solution BTW it is but a technique to pull off a wire edge, it does nothing to fix a mirco-chipped edge, both can result from overhoning...

You need some magnification to really check the edge a 30x or 40x loupe is more than enough...

What kind of razor??? and was it shaving before you put it on the stones?????

You know how to check for a wire edge right????


PS: the 30k Shapton 3-2-1 Technique has nothing to do with overhoning it is simply the most consistent way I have found to use that stone

I'm betting on stropping error here - one bad stroke can undo a lot of good work.