Thread: Long time reader, First time honer

I just received (from a friend of mine who had ruined the edge with improper honing) an almost brand new straight razor (Dovo, me thinks) and an equally new norton 8k/4k. As I said above my friend had purchased all of this thinking that he wouldn't have any problems. I'm not sure if he honed it out of the box or decided it wasn't sharp enough or what but he ruined the edge on it and now I'm not sure if it could cut butter. He handed it all off to me after giving up because he knew I was interested in getting my own.

I don't want to screw this thing up anymore but I would love to get it into shving condition. Do any of you think that theres anyway that a complete novice could get this thing up and shaving on my own? If so, what would you all recommend I do?

I would think it would be easy, with patience. Others will chime in but heres is what I would do. I'd get a microscope (Radio shack $10) and look to make sure the edge isn't screwed up, that is that it isn't nicked badly. If so, I'd hone until flat. Lap the hone correctly, using wet/dry sand paper. Then simply hone the razor flat with a little pressure and lessen the pressure until it shaves good. Then use less and less pressure until it shaves great. In the event that it is overhoned, just back hone on 8K a little. The process is just playing around using a heal leading stroke in the beginning and working the edge until flat. Read up on honing and play with it. Buy a strop and start stropping. Towards the end keep the strokes the same angle, the same exact length, and the same exact pressure equally on both sides. Use an X pattern at the end. Pretty simple really. If your friend has really screwed it up use the 4K side until its no longer screwed up. Your looking for a nice bevel with which to sharpen on.

Hi, VTyler. You came to the right place. Here's my 2¢:

Microscope is unnecessary, but will probably help you out in the long run. I have been honing blind for 8 months now and it's going ok. I'm sure I've fixed blades in worse shape than what you've got.

Although I didn't lap mine till last week, lapping your hone might be a great idea. I suspect your friend has honed off any 'high points' but he may have created a valley. If the hone (both sides) sticks to a wet pane of glass, it's flat.

Hold the razor up to the light and peer down the edge. If it is flat or slightly rounded you're fine. If it dips in the middle you need to do some circles on the hone until it is. Be careful not to apply lots of pressure while you do this. That'll just make matters worse. Patience and Persistence are great qualities for this task.

When you're ready to start creating the shaving edge, follow the Pyramid in the Permanent Archives of the Help Files and you will create a good bevel. Keep the pressure even right down the blade. Use the Search function 'pyramid' and 'pressure' too. Read as much as you can handle before you get going.

Now if your friend had just come here, done some reading and asked the right questions he'd be getting the best shaves of his life by now.

X

Since your friend gave it to you and your not out of pocket on it I would use it as a practice razor and give it a whirl. Worse comes to worse if your unsuccessful you can still send it out.

As Xman said inspect it, read the resources here and then hone it slowly, continually testing every few strokes, that way if things go south on you you'll catch it before they get out of hand.

Great stuff so far, thanks. I think I'll spend a few days reading the archives and then give it a shot this weekend.

Originally Posted by VTyler

I don't want to screw this thing up anymore but I would love to get it into shving condition. Do any of you think that theres anyway that a complete novice could get this thing up and shaving on my own? If so, what would you all recommend I do?

Yes it is possible but my advice to you would be to contact Lynn and have him hone it for you. This will give you a nice sharp razor to start with and it will let you get a feel for what it should feel like. my 2cents.

Don't bother Lynn with everything man. Just try it. If you have a good stone it's not that hard.

There's a plethora of information here about honing. Much of it is good advice. Keep the spine on the stone. Stroke heel to toe with a light balanced hand. Stop honing when it's sharp enough to shave. That's about it. Nothing ventured; nothing gained. Then if, after making a determined run at it, you can't get it to shave comfortably, you can always get someone to hone it for you.

I took an hour or so today to work on the razor. I followed the advice I found on this board and I got it shaving my arm hair pretty well, we'll see how it does on my face tomorrow. My one concern ( a bit of an understatement) is that I could not get it to pass a "hanging hair test" How concerned about this should I be?

This could be a concern. It may shave, but it may shave badly. Was the root end of the hair hanginging out? It doesn't usually work the other way.

If you're convinced the razor is flat or 'smiling' and that the bevel is good you might try a conservative pyramid: 1/5, 3/5, 5/5, 3/5, 3/5, 1/5, 1/5, 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. I recomend you go light on the 4k side and ULTRA light on the 8k especially toward the end. Keep testing the edge with the pad of your thumb very frequently throughout and don't hesitate to take a break and try the Hanging Hair Test in the middle if you ffel like it might be close.

X