Thread: Problems for a beginning honer

Cool, I will try going from the 8k directly to leather using your advice next time I have occasion to touch up one of my razors and see how it goes.

Originally Posted by Javast

I know you said not to worry too much about the HHT, but I do have one further question about it. Since I have been getting the HHT to pass extremely well off the strop, but inconsistently off the hone, and stropping does not sharpen the blade, does that mean that my razors could conceivably be shave ready off the hone - even without passing the HHT? I haven't tried yet, and have been reluctant to out of concern for my face...

Passing the HHT off the strop is a good thing, but failing the HHT is
not a bad thing. The only test that matters is the shave test.

My guess is that the hair that you are hanging to test with responds to
a stropped edge. A strop will improve the edge beyond what
a hone can do but a strop cannot replace a hone. Pasted strops
act both ways making it too easy to get into a tangle of words.

I consider my last hone step as leaving the edge "strop ready" not
shave ready.

One of the things a strop can do is leave an ultra
thin layer of strop dressing on the fine edge and protect that edge
from corrosion. So I always strop. I can make a mental image
that this micro layer of polymerized natural oil from the leather
acts like the micro thin layer of teflon that helps modern commercial
blades. A lot like the seasoning of a black iron pan helps a cook.
There are many more things that a strop does to perfect the
edge as stropping with newsprint demonstrates. The thin fine
nature of the edge challenges science and invites the type
of speculation trap I just let myself trip over.

All I really know is that a strop works.

Originally Posted by Lynn

I think one of the problems and this is common with new folks is that you are trying everything out there and there is a lot of information out there. The most important things in my opinion for the new guy are to learn to get to no pressure and to keep the blade flat on the stone. This takes a little practice. I would recommend just picking one method, like the pyramid or the circles or the X strokes and just work with that one until you get a razor shaving nicely. It sounds like you are close now off the 8K Norton, so trying to dial in would be good. Try just a 1-3, 1-5 pyramid on the 4K/8K then strop and test or try 3-5 X strokes with no pressure on the 8K, then strop and test. It may take a couple tries, but if it's close now, it should get a little better. Try not to do too much honing at one setting as that will make it less frustrating..

Such a great advice that I decided to quote all of it.
I got a razor as X-mas present. Cool and scary at the same time. It was supposed to be sharp, but when I found out about the HHTs etc. I came to conclusion that mine is nowhere near sharp. So off to get some hones and spend the waiting time with getting all information there is about honing.
Got myself Naniwa 5K and 3/8K combo to start with. Fortunately for me, there was JaNorton! I got lot of good information and saw nice videos on honing.

Finally I got my stones and.... Darn, honing is not as easy as it looks from the clips! Glenn etc. make honing look so easy: boom sharp razor in no time!
I learned that the hardest part is to move the razor evenly and with little or no pressure. Then there were all the different patterns! After more than 2 hours or honing with medicore results, I gave up. Luckily I came across this message from Lynn and decided that I'd stick with simple pyramid method, with just one or two different strokes. Just that I can't get my razor sharp. I can't cut arm hair from mid air nor can I cut arm hair normally with little effort. The razor is not sharp enough for me to try shaving whiskers, so I've just practiced with cheeck and chin.
I find it depressing to read comments like Ryan82:

Originally Posted by Lynn

Or you can stay on 4k until it shaves hairs effortlessly.

4K! Is that even possible? I don't get to the effortless stage with hour+ of careful honing.

Recently I've been doing 5k/8k pyramid with the assumption that it will eventually get sharp if I'm patient enough to hone the razor.
There must be some major problem with my honing method that is preventing me reaching the desired sharpness.
I did a small recording and I'dd appreciate if anyone of you can comment on my honing technique.



Here is a cropped image of my blade, taken with 50mm using 68mm worth of extension tubes. I've adjusted the contrast and colours to make the scratches more visible. IMO, the blade looks good, at least from that point.

This blade hasn't been stropped yet, but in general I strop, 100+100 (linen/leather). My technique is still somewhat off as I did manage to cut into my strop just recently (Now that kills the edge big time..) .