Thread: First honing

Vlad was kind enough to send me a couple project razors he had laying around so I could learn how to hone, and I put my brand new norton to work last night on the Eskiltuna that he sent me. The other razor is a small wedge that is in pretty bad shape, I've got to do some serious sanding and polishing on the blade and replace the scales if it's going to be even remotely salvageable and will be really good practice for me. I'm looking forward to some quality time spent in the garage working on it when the fiancee and her little wedding planning book from hell pushes me over the edge.

I spent a couple hours reading and a couple hours honing last night. The Eskiltuna started out in pretty good shape but was pretty dull. I did some aggressive pyramids on it (about 10 cycles) and wasn't having much luck so I figured it might be oxidized. I don't have a microscope or anything to look at the edge so I just took it to the 4k side for about 100 laps hoping to get rid of any oxidation, then did a couple of normal pyramids.

It's still not shave ready, but it's at least cutting hair. I have a bald left forearm now from testing it, and while it won't cleanly pass the HHT it does kind of "break" the hair over backwards. I draw the hair down into the blade and instead of clipping it (like the blades Joe sent me prehoned do) the hair kind of snaps, then lays over backwards instead of cutting cleanly. This is a heck of an improvement over where it started, though.

I'll swing by Radio Shack today and see if they have one of their cheap scopes in stock. Is the $10 special (the 10x-60x or something like that) good enough for this type of application?

-- Gary F.

Originally Posted by gfoster

I'll swing by Radio Shack today and see if they have one of their cheap scopes in stock. Is the $10 special (the 10x-60x or something like that) good enough for this type of application?

-- Gary F.

Better get the 10-25x optical (jeweler's or DTP industry one) loupe. I have the RadioShack (new edition) microscope, but I don't like it at all... I check my blades with 8x loupe.

g`luck,
Nenad

Where can I get a loupe?

-- Gary F.

Gary, Lee Valley has a set of 3 loupes for sale: one is a 10x

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...t=1,44047&ap=2

Jmy. Ellis

Yep, I saw those last night... You may also try searching in some good photographic equipement store, they carry that kind of stuff. The quality ~20x loupe will cost ~30$.

Nenad

I actually found a 10x loupe on amazon, kind of surprised me. I had a gift certificate from my 40th birthday still, so I went ahead and picked it up along with a new dopp kit since I can't find my old one since I moved.

-- Gary F.

Originally Posted by CaptMdnght

Gary, Lee Valley has a set of 3 loupes for sale: one is a 10x

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...t=1,44047&ap=2

Awesome, Jim. This is exactly what I need to take my honing to the next level. You are a Saint.

X

Well, I'd still try to find something in the x20+ range...

Shaved with this razor last night. Joe told me to not worry about the HHT so much and just shave with it and I did. Took his advice and hit it a few more licks on the 8k and then the paddles, and it shaved very smoothly.

Woohoo, I'm still a noob but now I'm feeling a tiny little bit less noobish

-- Gary F.

Gary,

That's why the HHT is not the ultimate test. A good shave is great whether the razor passed the HHT or not. Good job.