Thread: honing Time

Originally Posted by urleebird

About 14 seconds... 7 on each side...

Yep, with that grit, you'll get a fancy, scales enclosed toothpick :P

Originally Posted by randydance062449

The info you have been given is spot on.

If you razor is very dull, i.e. it will not cut you, then you have no bevel. The suggestions you have been given so far assume that. The coarsest hone to use initially is a 1000 grit. If you have tons of patience then use the Norton 4000.
Be sure to use the thumbnail test frequently to gauge your progress. What you want to feel is an even "draw" with no roughness, skips, hesitations etc.
If you razor is really dull when you begin then the razor will simply slide off your thumbnail and not bite into the nail (draw).

Most of your time will be spent on the 1000 and 4000 stones.


Hope this helps,

I just want to add that the thumbnail test gives you a lot of information, including when you have a wire edge. I suggest you read about it and learn to use it. Otherwise you're holdin a razor that's not shaving and you don't know if it's dull (requires a lot of work on a coarse stone, almost there (requires a little on the 4K then onward, or has a wire edge- overhoned and needs special treatment. Learning to use the test will tell you how to proceed, instead of guessing.

Remember one more thing. Don't use the thumbnail test after you're off the 4K stone. It will dull the edge.

After that you should use a sharpness test (hanging hair, etc.), whatever works for you. It will tell you when you're ready for the ultimate test: shaving. Before you learn a reliable sharpness test, you may find yourself going back and forth between honing and test shaving quite a few times. A lot of new guys bypass this and jump right into the pyramids. You still have to know when to stop, and that means a sharpness test.

Originally Posted by urleebird

About 14 seconds... 7 on each side...

If I used one of those, all my razors would be 3/8.

I have been tyring to get a keen edge on some razors for days ,then the penny dropped.I was leaving the tape on the spine all the time to protect it and therefore if you think about it the angle at the edge would be wider giving a stronger edge but not as keen so after the bevel was cleaned up and set I removed the tape and bingo,I can actually shave with them. they are not as good as they could be but with a lot more practice I think I will get there
My other problem is I havent got a propper strop,well not one that is any good .
So I made one the other day out of thick vegertable taned leather ,It certainly dosen`t look to flash however it works a lot better than the things I were using.
So once again ,thanks one and all,I now think that I`m making progress and I can see the faint glimmer of the proverbial light
Kind regards Peter

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

If you look in a microscope (pocket version $10 at Radio Shack)

Joe, is this the illuminated microscope they sell, or the three-lens flip out magnifying glass combination? Are we talking 5-15x or 60-100x?

Originally Posted by urleebird

About 14 seconds... 7 on each side...

Bill you just wanted to show off that beautiful machine again.

It took me about 3 hours my first razor. I just touched up 3 in about 45 mins just from about a month of use.

Keaton

Originally Posted by piper

Joe, is this the illuminated microscope they sell, or the three-lens flip out magnifying glass combination? Are we talking 5-15x or 60-100x?

60-100x illuminated, pocket.

Originally Posted by kvidoo

I just touched up 3 in about 45 mins just from about a month of use.

If you refreshed the razor when it just starts pulling, it would only take a few swipes on a Swaty. You might have to do it a lot more often than once a month, but you could avoid real honing indefinitely.

I suspect that in the long run you need to hone off a certain amount of material for a certain amount of use, so it might come out even. But I have to tell you that the quick, little refreshing shots take seconds, not 15 minutes. I would have to do about 50-60 a month to take a total of 15 minutes. I'm nowhere near that. I can usually use a razor 4-6 times before It feels like it needs refreshing.

Originally Posted by piper

Joe, is this the illuminated microscope they sell, or the three-lens flip out magnifying glass combination? Are we talking 5-15x or 60-100x?

This is a 60x -100x with light. Very nice choice, takes a little practice to use.

Joe my everyother day user was like 3 passes on a gem from tilly. The other 2 had sat most of that month and I guess time caught up with them from not stropping regularly. I really dont know Im still a noob. I guess if I would spring for a pasted strop from Tony I wouldn't have that problem.

Keaton

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

If you refreshed the razor when it just starts pulling, it would only take a few swipes on a Swaty. You might have to do it a lot more often than once a month, but you could avoid real honing indefinitely.

I suspect that in the long run you need to hone off a certain amount of material for a certain amount of use, so it might come out even. But I have to tell you that the quick, little refreshing shots take seconds, not 15 minutes. I would have to do about 50-60 a month to take a total of 15 minutes. I'm nowhere near that. I can usually use a razor 4-6 times before It feels like it needs refreshing.