Thread: 1st time

Last night I honed my first "shaving" razor, a wacker 6/8 wedge, using the honing method that Glen posted earlier this week. The stones that I used for this were a 1k, 4k, and 8k norton. I used mainly circles and x strokes, and also used the 4k after setting the bevel off of the 1k. I verified that the bevel was set using the TPT and the hair test on my arm, these all passed. I did not do anymore checks until I was done at the 8k level. I then floated the blade over my arm hair, and the blade caught and cut the hair easily. All in all the shave this morning was pretty good. However, I did notice that I had to change my shaving angle (more parallel to the skin) even doing WTG, the blade also felt a little "sticky". I do notice some small scratches in the blade, like maybe I haven't spent enough time at the 8k or 4k level. The bevel on the blade is even, but the wear on the spine is not even.

My main question is should I mess with the hones any longer and leave it as is, or should I spend more time at the 4k or 8k level. All in all I am pretty happy where I am at, but am wondering if spending more time on the hones will payoff?

I also do practice honing with a cheap razor, but do not shave with it. Up to this point I have sent my razors out to professionals. I also tried using tape and after two strokes took the tape off, it seems to stick to the hone and I did not like that feeling.

Try just the 8k to see if you can smooth it out a bit, maybe 20 or so really light finishing strokes...

right on.... thanks Glen. I hope you had a merry christmas, and have a happy new year.

ran 20 light strokes on the 8k yesterday, test shaved this morning. Smoothed out the shave very nicely, I am going to leave it where it's at. Thanks for the suggestion Glen.

I'm not that good at it yet, but there's certainly a satisfaction to using your own edges.

Kudos for getting started and working that 8k to a usable level.

Thanks for the kudo's, I'm pretty sure I got lucky on this one. I have spent plenty of time pulling my hair out on my practice razor just getting the bevel set.