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I am a newbie to honing and would like to start honing some old razors. I have the following stones (collected ad hoc and very cheaply): DMT 1200, Japanese 6,000 grit, and a new Thuringian (according to what I was told, but it is in a wooden box and has a slurry stone of similar material).
If I need to set a bevel and hone a vintage razor that is not in too bad of shape, how would I approach it with these stones? Is it possible?
Thanks for any help.
Jeff
It might be possible. You can set the bevel with the DMT and then you will need to spend a lot of time on the 6k because that is a high jump, especially off of a DMT. I've never done it, but I would guess you will need 75 to 100 strokes passes on the 6k. Then for the Thuringian, I would start with maybe 50 laps on slurry and then 25 to 50 with water.
These are my best guesses without ever having attempted such jumps.
Thanks, that will at least give me a range of how long I need to work the stones.
Do you think it would help to bridge the DMT/6000 gap by first doing circles and then the 75-100 laps?
Sure, circles would speed things up for both the 6k and the thuringian. Maybe do 50 to 75 circles on the 6k followed by 10 to 20 x-strokes. For the thuringian, try 50 circles with slurry and then 25 x-strokes with water. Hopefully other opinions will come shortly.
6k Japanese ????
Brand????
I don't know. It is white with a plastic base. The guy I got it from said it was 6000 and there was a slip of paper that confirmed. There is also a nagura that is reddish.
The main reason you will need LOTS of strokes off that DMT is that diamond (DMT's grit) set that way cuts deeply into the edge, you will need to remove ALL those scratches (hard to do off a DMT) to get a good smooth shaving edge.
Personally I would look for a better bevel setter, Shapton Glass stones at 1k work very well as do many others. Just a suggestion.
Here is the problem, you have 3 stones 2 out of the 3 are unknown quanities..
We know the DMT 1200 we know how it cuts steel.. The 6000 we have no idea nor the Thuringen...
I think Utopian has given you the best advice, you are going to have to set the bevel with the 1200, then work slowly into the other two stones and see what happens...
The whole honing experience for you is going to be an continual experiment...
Yes, thanks for clarifying. I guessed at numbers but the OP might need half that number or 2 to 4 times that number. It really depends on the razor, the hones, your methodology, and phase of the moon.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
Newer learn to hone under a waning moon:nono:Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
The 6K could be a Suehiro...they make a solid white 6k, and they make a reddish fake nagura. Is the "nagura" a thin rectangle?
I would recommend slurry, but then I that's what I always recommend.
Heck, I would even skip the DMT altogether unless you've got some major chipping, start honing with circles using slurry on the 6K, then move up to slurry on the Thuringian.
But that's just me.
Wow, what a great group/place this is. Thanks for all the comments. I tried Utopian's approach and thought I was on my way to a good edge. If anything, I rounded up on the number of laps with the 6K.
I tested the shave this AM on a 3 day T-Day growth (but not too thick). The first two strokes down the side was so-so, but then it got rough after that. The edge seemed rough, and it was pulling hairs.
So, I will need to keep practicing my technique and maybe will be able to figure these stones out.
By the way, the razor is an old Dubl Duck with quite a bit of wear on the spine, would this require any additional or different approach?
Thanks.
You might try Glen's test off the 6K (assuming the bevel is set) which is to see if the razor will easily shave hair off your forearm (this is normally done off the 4K, but worth a try). When it does, then move to the Thuringian. If the shave test is still pulling at that point, go back to the Thuringian in sets of 5-10 X strokes, strop and shave test until you can dial it in.
Have fun,
Lynn
If I'm not getting the arm hairs to come off easily, should I go back to the 1200 DMT to reset the bevel? About how many strokes would it take?
I did put a black marker on the bevel, and it came off with the 6K. But, wouldn't that happen even if I didn't get the blade to an exact point?
I've done some looking around at other posts, and I couldn't quite find an exact answer.
Thanks!
Jeff
I'm not sure there is an exact answer.
You could try 40 circles each way with a little pressure on the DMT followed by 10-20 X strokes and then move on to the 6K.
My honing approach is very simple and it works really, really well.
Watch Lynn's '09 convention videos and repeat.
Enough said.