My friend cudarunner sent me some stones to learn to hone with. He has supplied me with a King 800, Norton 4/8k and a DMT 325. In theory, and in the videos I have viewed, this should be enough to get the job done. I also have a C12k (PHIG) that I bought just for polishing my existing edges.
Here's the epic fail...... So today I figured I could give honing a shot. I have an old Mandarin razor I have had for at least 6 months. It has a slight smile to it, and has at one time in it's life had a chip near the toe removed.
I started with the 800 and attempted to set the bevel. I have 22 other razors to compare it's edge to, so anytime I thought I was getting incorrect feedback, I would pull a known razor and pop some hairs with it.
According to Glenn, I should be able to pop hairs right off the 800, and this will show I have set the bevel correctly.
I have razors honed by 7 different honers. Lynn, Larry, Kelly, Glenn, Don, Travis and Roy. If I have forgotten anyone, I apologize. Each of the razors hone by these gentlemen are in excellent shaving condition and are my baseline of comparison.
Needless to say, I have viewed every video and read every wiki page on the subject. I've seen it done in person also.
So.... I started with lynn's video right off this website. I do as instructed and get what looks like (I have a 30x jewelers loop) a good consistent bevel. It is even all the way across and looks good. It won't cut a hair to save my life. I set the bevel again. No hairs pop. I do it again. Nope.... and again... NOPE!!
SO I figured it was me, not the edge. I have a great looking bevel, and I take it to the 4k. I follow the Vidoe's and test it. Nope, no hairs pop. Again, I think it is me... So off I go to the 8k. I polish it according to Glenn's video, using the pyramid. Again I test... Nope, no hairs pop.
I polish in on my C12k, take it to the paddles and strop it good in the shave den.
I decide the best test should be a test shave. I lather a small spot on my face and test it.
It felt good, I could hear the whiskers and I cleaned a nice spot. when I felt it, nope, nothing removed. I grab my baseline razor and lather and shave the same spot with it. Smooth as glass. EPIC FAIL.. Now I have a spot on my face that is raw as heck, scratched up and burning like a SOB!!!!
Back to the hones I go. Same routine, and no hairs will pop.
Needless to say, I'm a little frustrated.
I'm really not sure where to go from here. How can I be sure my bevel is set correctly? It looks great under magnification, but it just won't shave hair.
Epic Failure... :(
M