Thread: Will this work until I get a finisher?

It does remove hair after the bevel is set, I don't have anything to look at it with though.i think my main problem is getting a nice smooth stroke on the stone, I know there may have been a few when I lifted one end or the other and didn't have the blade completely flat.

You could be getting multiple bevels then. I find that if this happens they want to continue and are only repairable by resetting the bevel. Do you use a finger on the spine to help hold the blade on the hone? Not a lot of pressure.
Is this a smaller blade: shortened or 4/8?

I didn't think of using a finger on the spine, its a 5/8 I believe, I'll try starting over tomorrow with resetting the bevel.

You have everything in your possession that should give you a superlative shave. As all these fine gentlemen have all written in posts that they have made in the past.....set the bevel.....set the bevel......set the bevel! After the 8k the barbers hone should take you above the 8K to use the diamond sprays, on felt as Lynn suggests, to get a very good edge. Using a loupe along the way tells you a lot when first starting out.

Take Care,
Richard

Originally Posted by sinnfein

I didn't think of using a finger on the spine, its a 5/8 I believe, I'll try starting over tomorrow with resetting the bevel.

Don't put your finger on the spine. That will just create other problems. Hone the way Lynn showed you and just practice keeping the blade flat. Occasional mis-strokes will not create multiple bevels, but they will interfere with your creation of a good bevel. Spend a little more time on the bevel setting and then work your way up the hones again.

I don't think this is going too far off-topic: in reference to the arm hair test, one has to be careful not to put too much pressure on the skin when utilizing this test. All the instances of reading about the AHT on this site reference "popping" the arm hair off. I can come from a 1k with an edge that isn't quite up to snuff and shave arm hair using a little bit of pressure. However, with an edge that is where it should be sharpness wise, you can just barely touch skin and see arm hair slice right off. If you want a good test, and can find somebody to help train your thumb (yes, I learned this at the Mid-MO meet!) the "Alternative Thumb Pad Test" is great for evaluating an edge: ATPT

In response to the above stated that a shave can be had off a 1k: sure it can! But it is not very comfortable, for me at least. An 8k shave for me isn't all that bad, but I feel a world of difference after continuing on to a PHIG, starting with medium slurry and diluting to clear in about 40 strokes.

Until your post, I always considered that to be the thumb pad test, rather than the alternative. I don't think what is described as the TPT in the Wiki is of any use for razors.

Well I tried again last night, really paying attention to keeping the blade flat. It popped arm hairs with ease. Didn't get a chance to shave with it yet cause I shaved yesterday morning and didn't have enough growth to shave, and I woke up late this morning so had to shave at work with my DE, so ill find out tonight or tomorrow. But I think I did good......hopefully

-dan-

Originally Posted by Utopian

Until your post, I always considered that to be the thumb pad test, rather than the alternative. I don't think what is described as the TPT in the Wiki is of any use for razors.

I could be mistaken, but I believe Lynn does the "normal" TPT in the wiki. I do the "alternate," but only when checking the bevel.

Success.....ish, well I was able to get a comfortable shave this morning, not quite as good as the shaves I get from the professionally honed razors but still good, just need to practice (which obviously means buying more razors). I think I'm off to a good start, now to buy more hones, do I need them? Probably not but now that I kinda know how to use them...must...buy...more...

-dan-