Thread: I'm doing something wrong....

Good idea,,,

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I was actually asking what laps and techniques you were using...

I have to elaborate a bit here... There are so many things that go into honing, just right here OK???
Are you doing straight down the hone laps, are you using a heel forward angle, are you doing X laps, are you keeping you elbow level, are you dragging the edge off the hone, are you mixing the strokes, are you using to much pressure, are you using to little pressure, are you using the pyramid ????? I am not looking for an answer to just these few questions I am just pointing out some of the variables just in this minute portion of honing

Honing is not a science it is an art and you have to learn it by your mistakes I can type for days but eventually YOU have to figure out the step that YOU are missing...

X Laps like in Lynn's video. Perhaps I am using too much pressure.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

First don't confuse HHT with a shaving test like most people do...

Second the Wiki does have several things in there that are looked at a gospel, that are actually opinion...

Third the HHT is a sharpness test that must be developed to be useful at all, "The guy that wrote all that in the Wiki took it a bit farther than most people"

For instance in my personal case..

HHT with my hair means "Nothing" other then the bevel is set, I can pop my hair at 1k-2k no problemo...

Now take my wifes baby fine hair that will not pop until the edge is perfect and stropped, that does give ME and indication that the razor is shave ready...
Why???
Because I have tried it on thousands of razors, I get her hair to pop and better than 99.99% of the razors shave well TOO, not because of...

Get the razor shaving well first consistently, then work out your own HHT

This is very true. My hair is fine and will rarely break in the hht. My wifes is coarse and will pass easily.

I think I'm getting closer on this honing thing... Making very light strokes, and learning that "less is more".

Originally Posted by thorxes

I guess this is my current problem. I thought sending the razor out to get honed would get it to shave well consistently to develop that "baseline" everyone talks about.

But since it doesn't shave as well as I had hoped, I'm not sure what else I'm supposed to do.

I have my own set of hones, but after sending the razor out, I'm too afraid of screwing the honing job up by trying to do it myself.

I was hoping to pick a razor up at an antique store for cheap this weekend, and work on my honing skills that way instead of using my primary shaving razor.

I'm really sorry here, but after reading Your posts and with you not having problems ATG and only in certain areas, it really looks like you should be working on your shaving technique. I would not confuse these problems with honing right now.

Have fun,

Lynn

Update:

First re-lapped on 3M 2K grit all my stones. Did a light pyramid touch up on my last honing attempt. A Gold Dollar. Then I took my home-made strop, 3" stiff belt leather that was really too stiff for a strop and coated it with CrOx. Stropped on that about 30 strokes, then on to my Illinois 827, 50 on the linen and 100 on the leather.

Did an entire shave nick free! Finally I think I am getting there!

The secret? Just what they have been telling me all along. Less is more! Keep only the weight of the razor on the hone.

Next to fix my Dovo Astrale!