Thread: 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

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..

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

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

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.

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

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.

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,

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

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