Thread: Can set bevel, cut arm hair, can't shave off Norton 4k/8/k

Hey guys I finally got a Norton 4k/8k for Christmas and have been working with it to get two razors to shave ready. First couple attempts did nothing other then give me a headache but after going back looking at more info and watching glen's vid on setting a bevel with the norton I have made progress.

I have a union spike 4/8 that had a bevel to start and I have been able to get it to shave arm hair but can't get it to shave ready.

I then have a bengal which had a nasty frown that I bread knifed. With this I was able to set the bevel and get it to shave arm hair but still can't get it shave ready.

On both I have used the pyramid system with circles to set bevel on the bengal

Also on both have tried my HHT, I also have Greaves and Son and Joseph Rodgers that I only use DOVO paste and .1 ferrous oxide on to sharpen and keep sharp that always pass my HHT when there ready to go. Also knowing that is not the end all I have tried shaving with them also with not good results.

So my question is do I just need to do more of the pyramid or is there something else I need to do.

Originally Posted by Castel33

Hey guys I finally got a Norton 4k/8k for Christmas and have been working with it to get two razors to shave ready. First couple attempts did nothing other then give me a headache but after going back looking at more info and watching glen's vid on setting a bevel with the norton I have made progress.

I have a union spike 4/8 that had a bevel to start and I have been able to get it to shave arm hair but can't get it to shave ready.

I then have a bengal which had a nasty frown that I bread knifed. With this I was able to set the bevel and get it to shave arm hair but still can't get it shave ready.

On both I have used the pyramid system with circles to set bevel on the bengal

Also on both have tried my HHT, I also have Greaves and Son and Joseph Rodgers that I only use DOVO paste and .1 ferrous oxide on to sharpen and keep sharp that always pass my HHT when there ready to go. Also knowing that is not the end all I have tried shaving with them also with not good results.

So my question is do I just need to do more of the pyramid or is there something else I need to do.

both of your razor has problem and not easy way to learn honing.
wedge blade is 5/8 and it is wedge. you will end up taping it. that won't help.
Second blade you have used breadknifing which i have not seen anyone recommend that.
specially if you are new to honing.
if you have only this 2 chooses then forget about second blade and work on wedge.
at first use 1 layer of electric tape and do pyramid again. See edge will improve if not then go ahead
1 take tape off
2. go to 1 k set the bevel
3 stay on 4k norton until your arm hairs pops up easily as soon as blade touches they are all over on your arm.
4. start on 8k stay on it until as soon as blade touches hairs they fall off.
remember
when you are on 8k
don't use pressure specially last 15 strokes.
2 if your 8k hone gets dark (particules from razor) this is sign which you have not done a good job on 4k.
hope this helps.

best way to learn honing is start with hollow ground blades.
gl

So, from the beginning.

Problem 1) working on two razors at once

Problem 2) Getting the bevel set right. Consider both more honing and more appropriate honing. What does the bevel look like? What does the marker test tell you?

Problem 3) Getting your razor close enough that .1 paste will be effective.

Problem 4) Getting the 4K close enough that the 8K is effective

All of the problems are related like ladder rungs to each other.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

both of your razor has problem and not easy way to learn honing.
wedge blade is 5/8 and it is wedge. you will end up taping it. that won't help.
Second blade you have used breadknifing which i have not seen anyone recommend that.
specially if you are new to honing.
if you have only this 2 chooses then forget about second blade and work on wedge.
at first use 1 layer of electric tape and do pyramid again. See edge will improve if not then go ahead
1 take tape off
2. go to 1 k set the bevel
3 stay on 4k norton until your arm hairs pops up easily as soon as blade touches they are all over on your arm.
4. start on 8k stay on it until as soon as blade touches hairs they fall off.
remember
when you are on 8k
don't use pressure specially last 15 strokes.
2 if your 8k hone gets dark (particules from razor) this is sign which you have not done a good job on 4k.
hope this helps.

best way to learn honing is start with hollow ground blades.
gl

This is exactly what I was going to say. Sham's method of sharpness measurements on the 4 and 8 K are great guides for sharpness tests.

Before I had a 1K stone, I used the 5K to set the bevel, then the 8k to sharpen, then the 12K to polish, then the 1.0 diamond paste to finish.

This worked well for my carbon steel blades, but the stainless steel blades just didn't get a good enough bevel on the 5K without starting out with the 1K. The straight razor would shaved, but its shaving performance was only OK, and not to the standard I expected. After integrating the 1K stone to set the bevel before moving to the 5K, its shaving action was much better.

SRP Wiki has links to the honing videos and Lynn honing a razor at the SRP convention, taking a razor from a 1K - 12K and another finishing stone. What he did here is a little differnent from the Pyramid as listed on the Wiki. Both methods worked for me.

Good Luck,

Pabster

Originally Posted by Pabster

After integrating the 1K stone to set the bevel before moving to the 5K, its shaving action was much better.



Pabster

Sorry to say i am respectfully disagree with your above statement.
Shaving action of the razor has nothing to do with bevel setting grit of the stone.
It has only time differences.
Lets say you start with 5k and you will end up spending 3 hours setting bevel and finishing the edge in 5k level.
Now if you start with 1k then move to 5k then you will spend 1.5 hours instead of 3 hours.
you can start with 5 k stone and stay on it until you will have 5 k edge
Then move on finish on any finishing stone.(lets say 12k)
second
you can start 2k and then move on next stone until finishing stone.
third you can start 1k then move on nest stone until finishing stone.
if you finish every single edge on 12k you will have 12k sharpness.
All 3 of your blade will have same sharpness.

Now if person doesn't know how to sharpen blade and moves on from one grit to another too early this will be different conversation.
hope this helps.