Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20

Thread: honing Time

  1. #1
    OLD BASTARD bg42's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Maleny Australia
    Posts
    708
    Thanked: 6

    Default honing Time

    Could some one be kind enough to tell me how long it takes to put an edge on a razor ,starting with no bevel. It seems to take me forever I keep going for ever and don`t get anywhere
    also what is the best sequence to use regarding course med and fine hones
    The help files are great ,but I must be doing something wrong
    Have a good day all
    Kind regards Peter

  2. #2
    Senior Member vladsch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Montreal, Canada
    Posts
    683
    Thanked: 7

    Default

    I usually use a 1k Norton for the initial bevel after blade restoration. I tape the spine with electrical tape so as not to wear it unnecessarily. Afterwards switch to 4k/8k for the honing without the tape. I used to use a 1k Japanese waterstone but it was much slower than the 1k Norton.

    With the Norton takes about 30 minutes or so from start to finish. Used to take about an hour when I first started.

    If you are using barber's hones they are probably a lot less agressive than the Norton so it will take longer. I would use the most coarse one you have for the initial bevel but I don't have any experience with barber's hones so can't get more specific..

  3. #3
    Super Shaver xman's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Lotus Land, eh
    Posts
    8,194
    Thanked: 622

    Exclamation Patience

    Time is irrelevant. All things regarding this art will take long to begin with. So they should. As you learn they will take less time.

    With the edge, take that time. You will achieve much more and save much more time in the long run by intentionally taking extra time in the short run. Remember to use very light or less pressure on the hone and take it extremely slow. Slow enough so you can see exactly what all parts of the edge are doing along the hone at all times. By taking three or four times as long with the honing now you will reduce the amount of time it takes to "get fast" by about tenfold. You'll also achieve your first edge in about half the time.

    X

  4. #4
    OLD BASTARD bg42's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Maleny Australia
    Posts
    708
    Thanked: 6

    Default

    Sorry, by me asking this question I obviously sound like an impantient so and so
    I realise I will not gain accuracy and speed straight away,the purpose for the question was to gauge how I`m progressing,because if I`m in the ball park by a couple of hours I know I will be making progress.
    I just went down to the workshop and lapped all my hones again and discovered that they were not exactly flat,but they are now so I will give them another go tonight.
    We will see how we go
    Kind regards Peter

  5. #5
    Member AFDavis11's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    5,726
    Thanked: 1486

    Default

    I gotta jump in here real quick. I just honed up a razor, litterally with no bevel. It took me two hours, just as a guage, to get it shave ready. But in your case I have to ask. What do you mean by your razor not having any bevel. Surely this is very, very rare. Perhaps you mean something a little different. I'd suggest if in fact the bevel is much poorer than say a new razor that you should find a new razor to learn to hone on and not start with one without a bevel.

  6. #6
    OLD BASTARD bg42's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Maleny Australia
    Posts
    708
    Thanked: 6

    Default

    Sorry I have used the wrong word the ERN I picked up was very very blunt
    I just checked the add pics on ebay and there is a bevel there
    My mistake
    Kind regards Peter

  7. #7
    Senior Member Joe Lerch's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,331
    Thanked: 8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bg42
    tell me how long it takes to put an edge on a razor ,starting with no bevel. It seems to take me forever I keep going for ever and don`t get anywhere also what is the best sequence to use regarding course med and fine hones
    What takes the longest is setting up the edge (bevel). If you're using barber hones or even a 4K, you must be very frustrated.

    I usually start out with an extra fine diamond (1200). Anything coarser than that seems to produce a rough edge which requires more work later. Tape the spine and work carefully until you have a bevel that's even along the entire edge and about the same on the other side. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

    Then remove the tape and go to the 4K. If you look in a microscope (pocket version $10 at Radio Shack), you wil see that the bevel is actually two bevels at that point. Keep working carefully and checkin the microscope, and make sure the two flat strips on the spine stay even. WHen the microscope shows that you're down to a single bevel, try the thumbnail test (classicshaving.com "how to ... and why" section on honing). That will tell you the state of the razor. When you pass that test, go to the 8K.

    Now you want to hone the edge gently until until it is keen. You will need to learn some test for sharpness, like the hanging hair test. You can go to additional abrasives.

    Some people use pyramids (see the documents section), because it's a fixed procedure that will get you there eventually. I wouldn't start it until you're ready to come off the 4K.

  8. #8
    Hones & Honing randydance062449's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
    Posts
    7,972
    Thanked: 2202
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    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,
    Randolph Tuttle, a SRP Mentor for residents of Minnesota & western Wisconsin

  9. #9
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    1,304
    Thanked: 1

    Default




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

  10. #10
    Vlad the Impaler LX_Emergency's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Oss, the Netherlands
    Posts
    2,854
    Thanked: 223

    Default

    hahaha wonderfull Bill.....don't have one of those.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •