Thread: Three honed razors under my belt

I began my str8 trip back in August. I had been talking about doing it for awhile, just jawing at work with a couple other guys. Then I decided to take the leap. I bought a TI from TAOS at the Mall, and then discovered eBay. I lucked out in finding a decent old HMC Cutlery razor. I had some Spyderco sticks in my posession as a relic of my Chef's days, and honed that up on them. My left arm slowly became hairless, and I got a good edge on it, I thought. I shaved with it, and it went pretty well. About as good as the TI. THen I learned that Brand new doesn't mean the same as Shave ready. So I shipped the TI off to SRD, and also purchased a new Dovo from SRD, as well as a set of Norton stones 220/1K and 4k/8k, and a lapping stone. I found a near perfect Swaty on the eBay. I went to work on a few blades I had cleaned up/ rescaled. They did mow the stubble, but left me raw. I then purchased a neat little 60X magnifier, for 60 Cents + shipping ($6.50) What an eye opener!. I took a look at the blades i had honed. Yowza! They looked nothing like the 2 I got back from SRD. So I set to work yesterday on those 3, a Keen Kutter, the HMC Cutlery, and an Olde English Razor.
First on the 220, to get rid of the minute chips along the edge (about 20 or so passes). Then onto the 1K, to set the bevel. About 60 strokes, pausing about every 20 to take a look with the Magic Eye. Onto the 4K, 30 passes and the big scratches from the 1K were gone. So I then set to a modified Pyramid.
I started with 10 passes on the 4k, then 10 on the 8K.
I then decreased the 4K 1 pass, and increased the 8k by 2 passes. (Don't ask why, just felt right) So it went like this:

4K 8K
10 10
9 12
8 14
7 16
6 18
5 20
4 22
3 24
2 26
1 28

Then onto the swaty. I did ten strokes on a side both forward and back ( a hone stroke and a strop stroke), then flipped and did the other side. Did maybe 150 passes this way on each side. Looked under the scope and compared it to Lynn's edges. I think I got it!
100 passes on a cloth strop with TI Razor paste, 100 passes on a cloth strop w/o paste, and 100 on leather.
It may be a bit unconventional, but I shaved with the Keen Kutter yesterday, with a 2 day growth, and other than stabbing myself with the point ( this blade has a Barber's Notch, not something I am used to), the shave went great. I made a WTG, XTG and even a few ATG, especially under the jawline and chin where I can never seem to get BBS.
Today I used the HMC Cutlery and same result, smooth and comfortable!

Now I know I have been a pain in some peoples sides over the last month, asking lots of questions, and challenging some theories, but that is how I learn. I hope I haven't offended anyone. I really feel that I have come along way in a very short period of time, and I owe it to the folks here a SRP. Your knowledge and willingness to share with patience has gotten me where I am.
Thank you all.
Any comments on my honing techniques are appreciated.

thank you for this posting i'm new to straight razors myself its great to get to now how someone else hone's . really nice to get the numbers so i can be in the ball park to a smooth shave

Just remember I am a Newbie. THere are many other Senior Members with much more experience here. Check out Lynn's and others videos, and check out Pyramiding techniques posted in the forums and the Wiki...

That is awesome I can't wait to start honing. I am so new my razors don't need it yet. I assume you sharpen your work knives, how hard was the transition as far a technique goes?

I'm sorry Saf, I'm not sure I understand the question. Do you mean how hard was it to transition from sharpening a Chef's knife to sharpening a razor? (Please excuse my slowness, I am under Cold Medicine tonight)

yes is there a big difference between the two

I find getting an edge on a razor is easier, at least as far as the basic... the angle. Since you always keep the spine on the stone. But it is just alot more involved as far as the knowledge of how to get a real fine edge. You can slice a tomato with pretty crappy edge on a knife, relatively speaking. I never got my Chef's knives to super razor sharp, though thtey would take hair off your arm. You can't have a super fine edge on a work knife, or youd be sharpening the damn thing all the time, it has to be durable too.
The magnifier was a REAL help. Being able to see the super small nicks, the scratches as they dimish to the next size....
Perhaps in time I'll be able to train myself to recognize all these things without a magnifier, using old school techniques, but as long as I have the magnifier, I won't have to.

Let us know how the edges hold up over time. 150 passes on a swaty is about 140 more than recommended to prevent an overhoned edge which breaks very easily during shaving. Instead of going to the swaty next time I would just keep playing with the norton, you should be very shave ready after 8k, arm hair should fall away at that level.

Thanks for the information. I'll let you know.
Even after the 150 passes, I can still see the grooves from the 8k, though they are alot smoother, so I don't think there's an issue, but I'll keep an eye on it.

I honed a TI tonight on the Norton 1,4 and 8. I got it to arm hair test (passing the blade about 1/8' away from the skin the hairs were falling). I shaved with it and it was harsh. I have since passed it over the Swaty about 100 strokes (very light touch), and will shave with it again tomorrow.