Thread: Couple Honing Questions

1) I have a hard time figuring when to move to the next grit level. I'm in learning/practice mode, so the last 2 razors I been working on I've breadknifed frowns out of them and started from scratch. Setting the bevel on the 1k norton, I've been honing till there are no flat spots (checking for flat spots with mag and light)and then I move to 4k norton. For the 4/8k I'm really kinda guessing when to move on. I use the TPT, but it seems like a guessing game. I probably rely most on how easily it cut the hairs on my arm. Does anyone have any advise?

2) What's the deal with taping the spine? Some use no tape, others use multiple layers, others use it on the 1k then use no tape for the rest. I saw one video where tape was used for the finish only.
I get that people don't want to scratch the razors but if your honing the scratches out of the bevel aren't you honing the scratches out of the spine? I personally would rather use no tape. Do you experienced guys see that as a problem?

You do have a lot of questions. Taping the spine is done, most often, to protect against hone wear on the spine. Not really about the scratches. Taping at the end is probably to create another bevel.

I wouldn't worry about taping the spine.

Learning to hone, and breadknifing simply do not go together. That would be like trying to learn to be a mechanic by first trying to build a car. Then asking questions like "why is the muffler attached to the bumper?"

I suppose I can suggest that honing on 1K is about making a bevel, 4K is about refining a bevel so that it'll start cutting, 8K is about polishing a bevel so that it'll cut well, and smoothly.

If the end result isn't good I go down a notch and then back up. If that doesn't work then you have to go down two levels. Break out of the mindset that you are trying to go up in grit like some kind of ladder, one step at a time. Although this is correct, think of it more like an escalator when your trying to learn.

I would continue working on the bevel and edge and just run the razor over my arm hairs and try to get the edge to catch a hair.

Since you have breadknifed the razor you need to be extra diligent in creating a good appropriate bevel and ensuring that you have a good geometric realationship between the spine and the edge. I would polish the bevel you have on 8K, say 100 strokes, and then carefully examine whether the resulting polish has covered your new bevel consistently.

If it has then you are ready to begin a normal progressive honing routine. At that point, I think it is still a crap shoot of when to move up, but if you move up and down at will (like an escalator) you'll be more likely to make overall progress. Remember too, that every hone cuts metal, some just much, much, much more slowly than others.

I was thinking the same, breadkniffing is a pita to come back from. lot's of bevel setting. Once you have a good bevel set, i.E. cutting arm hair, move to the next stone.
Those of us with experience go by feel mostly. I have stones that litterally suck the blade to the stone. The basic think is to make sure all scratches are removed from the previous stone, A 10x jeweler's loupe may help, although I'm not sure, I don't look, I go by feel...

Tape can be used to save on spine wear. Also, if it's an old razor, with hone wear on the spine, a layer of tape or two, can be added to increase your angle. It will help with honing....

I never tape the spines. As far as honing, I just go with my instincts.

On my youtube channel (gssixgun) you will find a vid set that shows breadknifing, I am not linking to it, or posting it on here because it is a drastic measure of restoration, in fact there is a warning on the vid on my channel..

All that being said the Vid is 27 minutes long, take out all the BS while I am talking, and if you follow the instructions it takes about 15 minutes to bring back an edge...

Watch it at your own risk just like the warning says...

Once your bevel is set on the 1k, try Lynn's pyramid.

Try an aggressive pyramid from the Wiki and then shave test it. If it's not comfortable and is tugging severely, do another aggressive pyramid. This is how I honed my first razors. I did the heavy pyramids until it was barely pulling/tugging, and then I switched to the conservative pyramid to help polish the blade. It was a great way to learn because you're doing lots of strokes.

It also helped to understand where the blade "is" in terms of comfort after 1 pyramid, 2, etc.

Once your conservative pyramid is done, a couple strokes if you have a finisher would be good, test shave, evaluate. Rinse and repeat.

I hope I'm not stepping on anyones toes here, but this is truly what helped me when I started.

Sometimes the fun is about figuring out the puzzle. Good luck.

As usual you guys are great! Thank you

I did do a similar restoration before this one and I shaved with it this morning. It turned out pretty good. I chose these more difficult projects for the learning experience.

I'm enjoying the journey

Thanks again everyone for your input