Honing This

Attachment 505I continue to struggle with blades like this. I have several of them--similar to bokers--and though you can get the blade to feel sharp quickly after starting to hone, it won't cut hairs on my arm much less on my face. I am using a Norton 4X8 and finish up with my yellow conticle. I know every razor is different and the larger blades seem to make transitions when I am honing, at a slower rate than these. But with them, when I begin feeling the blade is almost there it is shave ready. On these smaller blades they feel shave ready almost after I get off the 4K Norton...and after the 8K...and after the Conticle...and after the 30 laps on the strop and still won't shave.

so I back hone and begin the process again. I thought I might be over honing but I reduce the # of strokes at each grit and still get the same results. I use pressure like Bill shows on his new CD. Is use light pressure as most others recommend. The outcome seems to be the same.

So I am open to suggestions short of sending it out for honing. I want to learn to do it myself, even when I get frustrated. jmsbcknr

where can you buy this cd please?

I think he is referring to this . . . . but I'm not sure . . .

http://www.billysblades.com/Straight%20Razor%20Book.htm

You could bring it by my house we can check it out, or I can stop by sometime, but I'd need to look at it. I have a plethora of hones we could try.

When you say "razors like this" what do you really mean? Pretty razors? small razors? full-hollow razors? solingen razors?

If it's small razors (which seems to be implied from the text) then you need to be very very careful with pressure, and very deliberate on the hone, especially for the small full-hollow blades. Small razors are harder to hone - I suspect this is one reason for the modern preference for larger blades.

That is some SERIOUS razor porn! Absolutely beautiful!

RT

At the moment I am in the process of sharpening a rusty tiny Ben Hur razor Cutting edge is 2.5 inches long, blade 4/8 to 9/16" wide. I managed to get a good edge by guiding the spine over the hone with the index, middle and ring fingers of my left hand. My right hand stabilizes the scales, shank and tail. I apply as little pressure as possilble and do X-patterns all the time.

Good luck! Let us know the result of your efforts.