Thread: Observations of a rookie honer!

Just so others will know what they are in for! As someone said in another post its not rocket science.HUH. Its not the easiest thing either.
I started out my honing with a set of Naniwa stones that I got from SRD 220, 1k, 5k, 8k, and a 12k. Lapped them flat, but not far enough to get to a good cutting surface the first time around. So back to the wet-dry paper on glass.
Next I started with a Henckels 415 (beautiful razor), that had some pitting on the edge. I started with the 220, to try to get out the pitting, doing circles when I noticed that I was not using even pressure and had started to wear the spine unevenly. I then started using X strokes and it started to improve. Once I finally got thru the pitting I moved to the 1k after working with it for short amounts of time over the next several day, my boss frowns on me not working on work at work go figure, I got it to shave hair of my arm. So I move to the 5 and 8k and start with a pyramid of 10, figure that would be just fine now that I have the bevel right, wrong, little did I know there was no bevel set yet, rookie mistake and I continued to the 12k. Figured I had it scary sharp. Stropped on .5 diamond sprayed felt, roughed leather and then leather. Next day off I got to shave despite the fact that it was no where near shave ready I came out unscathed and managed to take a few whiskers off in the process.
I managed like that for about a month with no progress, figured my technique was off. So I did a touch up from the sprayed felt up as recommended by another member. I tried to concentrate on angle and stropping. It improved a little but not enough over the next month.
So I decided to go back to the stones and started back at the 1k. and every so often I would go to the 5k and do 10 or 15 X strokes to see the progress I was making. I discovered that doing this the 5k would polish the edge and made it easy to see what still needed to be removed. Then finally after 3 months of trying I finally got it sharp enough to shave and actually shave clean. I think it still needs a little bit of work but nothing like before. I also just took it to the 8k to see what it is like to shave off an 8k stone. Actually not to bad.
I will be going back to the stones 5,8, and then the 12k. As I said I think it just needs a little more attention.
So to sum things up for those who are hardheaded and wanting to jump in with both feet like I did. Get one that is shave ready to start with and then try your hand at honing. It will save you some of the questions that are asked everyday.
I am now working on a razor that had a chip in the edge and will probably never do that again. It has taken forever to get the chip out of the edge and I realize 20 or 30 buck is money well spent and well earned. Just a nod to the pros that hone everyday.
Thanks
James

the thing that stands out to me is that if you shaved arm hair off the 1k you should have a set bevel, did you confirm with a TNT test?

Originally Posted by poppy926

... Next I started with a Henckels 415 (beautiful razor), that had some pitting on the edge. I started with the 220, to try to get out the pitting, doing circles when I noticed that I was not using even pressure and had started to wear the spine unevenly. I then started using X strokes and it started to improve. Once I finally got thru the pitting I moved to the 1k after working with it for short amounts of time over the next several day...

There are differences of opinion as to method, and you must understand that I am in the minority. But, I believe it would have saved you many hours if you had breadknifed the blade first to achieve a straight edge, then honed to reestablish a V shaped bevel.

@tekbow I think it could have been remains from a previous honing and possible that I was honing at a different angle or that my hones were flatter or something of that nature and I was kind of resetting the bevel. It had one good pit in the center of the edge and minor pitting throughout the edge. Just my thoughts. Also when I say shave hair on my arm I should have said cut the hair on my arm kinda like my pocket knife does at 600 grit. I hope that makes more sense.

@LarryAndro When I started honing this Henckels I didnt even know what breadknifing was. Also the edge was straight except for the toe, it had and still has a little smirk. I was more interested in learning the technique for honing and getting the stroke and pressure right first.
If I ever do another chip I most likely will breadknife it as much to form my own opinion of that particular technique as anything else. I have learned a tremendous amount from this experience and would not change a thing.

I thank you guys for your input and again my hats off to the pros that do this everyday.

Hi James,
Nothing wrong with jumping in with both feet. Just don't dive in head first and not know how deep it is. Sometime in the future you might invest in a loupe or cheap 100x microscope so you can see what is happening to your edge as you progress to finer stones. Focus on the basics first. Learn from your mistakes that is part of the process. Ask questions, "Listen" and Learn. And have fun too.
MIke

Thanks MODINE you know I have one and had forgot about it until about a month ago. Its a 20X B&L I started using it about a month ago and it is cool to see what your doing going from one stone to the other. Infact its because of the loupe that I realized I hadnt got the bevel set properly because I could see an area of the edge that looked kind of sandblasted in contrast to the nice polished areas of the edge.

I also discovered I am not a morning honer either. Guess the first jolt of caffeine and nicotine make me a little jittery and I get an inconsistency in, well all of it. Never noticed it until I tried to hone not long after I got up this morning.