Help with honing 2

Hi, guys!

I just bought Fanger 500 4/8 Solingen

http://i35.tinypic.com/158x90.jpg

and I have big problems with honing. I think, bevel is OK, I can cut arm hair readily, but, I can't pass hair cut test.
I use exactly procedure which I read here in "Post y. progression".
I doing something wrong, but, I don't know what.

I use Naniwa 1k, 3k, 8k and 10k!

Any advice will be fine!
Thank you


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

Your progresion is fine. You might try a piece of electrical tape on the spine of the razor at the 5000, 8000 and 12000 mark. See if that gets you your shaving edge.
MIke:)

Other than making sure a bevel will cut arm hair at all locations of blade (heal, middle, toe) at the 1K range, I personally don't put much into all of the tests. Now keep in mind that I am not a "honemeister", but am working on journeyman status. The test of all tests is the shave. If it won't shave, try:

-going back to the 4K, 8K, 12K with about 20 circles, followed up with 10 x's. Pressure is only enough to keep the blade flat on the stone. No slurry on the stones. I personally don't tape a spine unless someone requests it.

-20 x's on the hard felt, same pressure

-60-80 strokes on the leather.

-The concept is that after the bevel is set, you are "basically" polishing out the edge.

Keep in mind that the only, I repeat, only true "test" is shaving with the blade.

Remember, less is better when it comes to honing and pressure.

Did you shave test it? There are so many variables doing the HHT that it can be misleading.

If my razor will cut the hair at my wrist without pulling, it is shave ready.

When you are new to razor honing your main focus needs to be on keeping the blade flat on the hone with even pressure. Use the same smooth stroke in each direction.
You are trying to bring out that clean smooth edge with finesse, and that takes some time and patience to develop.
If you find yourself getting frustrated. Put it up and try again later.
Using a 30x loup helped me see what was going on. It took me a while to develop the muscle memory I needed to achive consistant good results.

Have patience with yourself and before you know it you will see yourself getting better and better at honing.


Silver2

Looks like this razor needs/needed some definite bevel work. Bevel looks a little uneven and there are perpendicular scratch marks on the blade at the bevel. When I see these it normally takes a few rounds of circles at the bevel setting stage. For the most part, once I have the bevel set correctly, I just move through the rest of the progression you have posted, strop and test shave. That will normally give me an idea of where I need to go back to if I do at all. Sometimes it is close enough to where a 2 micron paste followed by a .5, each getting 10 X strokes and then stropping is just what the doctor ordered.

Have fun,

Lynn

Thank you very much for answers, gentlemans!
As a Silver2 said, I'm begginer of razor honing, but, I'm here to learn something. I'll go from beggining and see later results.
No, I'm not try test shave yet.

Thank you, guys!
I'll try test shave, and razor are in a perfect shape! :)
Before beginning, I going back to the 1k, use 60 heavy pressure circles, 60 light pressure x's, 40 light pressure on 3k, 10 light x's. on 8k, and finish with 15 light x's on 10k Naniwa.
80 strokes on Kanayama and that's it!
I'm very happy! :-))))

Thanks again MODINE, shooter74743, Silver2 and Lynn for advices! I appreciate that.

P.S. Btw, where is my pic!? :-)

I'm new to honing and even the professionally honed razors that I have (quite a few) will not pass a hanging hair test but shave superbly! I would put more emphasis on the shave quality versus the HHT.