Thread: Rookie question... regarding post 8k honing.

Ok, having achieved a limited amount of success due to JaNorton, I have a new challenge facing me.

I have had some blades I tried to hone come out really rough on the face. Left me with a lot of razor burn (left cheek looks like hell) but removed stubble.

The TNT felt good after the bevel was set, so after repairing it again on the 1k I moved on to the 4k then to the 8k, off to the C12k and then a balsa CrOx pasted paddle. Lots of strokes on the felt and leather, then a test shave.

The test shave sucked rocks and burned and bumped me up something terrible.
SO, ok back to the hones she went. I didn't blunt it in anyway, but went back to the 1k, the 4k and the 8k. Stopped there, but went 100/200 on the felt/leather and test shaved. Much much better this time around.

So this time no C12k or the balsa paddle, and the results were pretty good, so much better than yesterday. No tug or pull at all, and left me fairly clean after 1 pass. I was very encouraged. I went ahead and did the full 3 passes and even had a comfortable go at a ATG pass with pretty good success.

So, taking another razor I have been wanting to hone, a shoulderless 13/16 Robeson, I followed the exact same routine, excluding the C12k and the balsa. This one popped hair with no effort at all, and I mean popped. I could literally hear the pop as it sent one flying, clean over the spine when it popped (arm hair that is, a good 1/3" off the skin, I have long arm hair).

SO I'm preparing to shave with it tomorrow, if my left cheek allows me to anyway.

My question is this, did I mess them up on the 12k or balsa? Shouldn't I have actually made the edge smoother using one or the other or both?

If I use the same technique of X strokes on the C12k, which is hard as heck and leaves a super soft talc like slurry when dry, and of course all speak well of CrOx paddles, so I expected better.

If I shave with this one tomorrow and it goes well, which I think it will, this robeson was a great shaver before I messed it up experimenting with barber hones (too many strokes during practice), should I go for the next level with the C12k and balsa?

IDK, any thoughts from you all? Could it by the C12k or the balsa? Should I consign myself to shaving off the 8k only from here on out, or what?

Thanks ahead of time!!

Mike

Shave with it then try adding either the Chinese stone OR the paste. After some trial and error you will figure out what went wrong. I don't have either and I couldn't really guess which is giving trouble.

Michael

I end up with rough edges usually from not fully setting the bevel. I try and get the TPT as grippy as I can get it before moving on to the next stone.

sometimes the crox can give rough shaves if used too much, if that happens, just go back to the C12k and do 30 laps on that to smooth it out, see if that works

I usually want to get armhair or leghair silently cutting from an edge before shaving with it. If you take your Robeson and give it 30 laps on the chinese 12k, see if it improves any

I agree with the above posts. Try one or the other to vary your outcome. It's quite easy to burn an edge using crox. I did it a whole whack of times before I finally got the hang of it. Super light spine leading strokes, and only about 5-8 of them are what seems to be the most consistent way to use crox for me.

I haven't been straight shaving very long, and I've been honing an even shorter amount of time. That being said, I can't stand the edges that come off crox. They're really harsh on my skin, and the worst shave I've ever had. I'd try taking your razor to the C12k with the slightest slurry you can get. Do about 20 or 25 light x strokes, then rinse the stone and do another 20 or 25 light strokes on just plain water. Then strop on leather only about 40 times and test it out. If you like the shave, go back to your normal stropping routine. If you think there's more to be had from the C12k, then go back and do another 20-ish strokes, strop and test again. I've found its easier to sneak up on an edge using this technique than it is to try to get it right the first time, especially when you're just starting out honing.

Originally Posted by justalex

I end up with rough edges usually from not fully setting the bevel. I try and get the TPT as grippy as I can get it before moving on to the next stone.

sometimes the crox can give rough shaves if used too much, if that happens, just go back to the C12k and do 30 laps on that to smooth it out, see if that works

I usually want to get armhair or leghair silently cutting from an edge before shaving with it. If you take your Robeson and give it 30 laps on the chinese 12k, see if it improves any

Would a partially set bevel actually shave whiskers? What would be the indications of a partially set bevel? Is it something I could see with my loupe?

Thanks!!!

Mike

Originally Posted by Maxi

I agree with the above posts. Try one or the other to vary your outcome. It's quite easy to burn an edge using crox. I did it a whole whack of times before I finally got the hang of it. Super light spine leading strokes, and only about 5-8 of them are what seems to be the most consistent way to use crox for me.

I can't say specifically where I read it, but somewhere I got the impression that 20-40 strokes on the CrOx was what would give a good results. I think it was on the site that I purchased them from. SOmething about 20-40 on the diamond followed by 20-40 on the CrOx. I take it it is more like a barbers hone in that 5 or 6 laps should show improvement?

Thanks for the response!!

M

Originally Posted by myersn024

I can't stand the edges that come off crox. They're really harsh on my skin, and the worst shave I've ever had. I'd try taking your razor to the C12k with the slightest slurry you can get. Do about 20 or 25 light x strokes, then rinse the stone and do another 20 or 25 light strokes on just plain water. Then strop on leather only about 40 times and test it out. If you like the shave, go back to your normal stropping routine. If you think there's more to be had from the C12k, then go back and do another 20-ish strokes, strop and test again. I've found its easier to sneak up on an edge using this technique than it is to try to get it right the first time, especially when you're just starting out honing.

Amen to that brother!! I have found that too many variables just left me guessing as to what was the problem point. Having gotten a decent shave off just the 8k showed me that something was amiss past that point, which will leave you guessing if you do to much after that. I like your idea, it's something easy to do.

I was close to giving up on it from frustration, but persistence paid off. I was able to do small near wedges off the 8k, but anything near a hollow ground just didn't come out right. I don't know if that was just me, psychologically treating them differently or what. But I do know that they are harder for me for some reason.

I'll shave after breakfast (actually only partially shave) and see how it is. Maybe add a few strokes off the C12k and do a little more, etc.. I really like the sneak up on it idea, as that is one I can do!!

All the best mate!!

Mike

What I would tell you is to stop at the 8K. When you get a great shave off of that then you have mastered that hone and can move on.

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Shave with it then try adding either the Chinese stone OR the paste. After some trial and error you will figure out what went wrong. I don't have either and I couldn't really guess which is giving trouble.

Michael

Trial and error is all I have to work with, LOL!! I like the sneaking up on it thought myersn put forward, very similar to your response as well. Adding things in in layers seems to be a good approach!

THanks for the advice!!

M