Thread: The C-Nat-athon

Originally Posted by handyman

Thanks again for starting this thread and all who have contributed their information. I recently purchased a cnat from woodcraft giving me two hones to work on so this thread came at a perfect time. I finally tried to hone my first razor the other night armed with the info I gleaned from this thread and the many others and videos found here and wanted to share my results here based on the nature of the thread and what I was using. King 800/4000 and cnat.

Razor:
Ebay $15 Soligen purchased last year for the sole purpose of practicing honing and restoration.

I started out on the 800 and did my best to set a bevel. I think I did alright based on popping arm hairs and such still felt should be a little better though seemed it took a good bit longer to get that far then I thought it should. I was using the circles and x's over and over till I felt I was close enough to move to the 4000. Did the same pattern here again longer than I thought but maybe the norm for these stones. Was also concentrating on getting a decent technique and movement down. I probably did 5-6 sets of the 20 circles and 20 x's. Moved to the cnat with thick slurry and just kept doing sets and diluting until clear water. Have no idea how many but this part probably took around 25 min. Same patterns. Next night did about 40 on paste and 50 on leather.

Results:
Well, surprisingly it shaved! 3 passes even.
Quality of shave? Well...... could have been better. Not very comfortable. Seemed harsh, pulled some, just seemed a little dull.
Two nights later did 40 on paste and 100 on leather. Shave was a little smoother but still not quite there. Think I need to go back to the hones and practice some more. Pleased that I got that far first time out of the gate but need to work more on smoothness of my motions. Also need a better strop i think (some small nicks from learning) and definitely would like to have a loupe for looking at progress.



All in all, big thanks and it was fun and a I enjoy this art.

Feedback?.......Shoot!

Let me know if you see something wrong or have any tips for my next session.

Hi Handyman,

It sounds to me like a superb start! Much better results than I got my first razor out. As a matter of fact, I never even got a shave off my first try. I could tell by the arm hair test not to try it on my face. Then about 50 tries later I finally got a good bevel set.

Here is a great place for an illuminated magnifier (30x loupe):
Widget Supply 25mm 30x Chrome Teardrop Jewelers Loupe, Illuminated

That is the one I bought, and you can't beat the cheap price. It is not a cheap loupe though and I think it works magic for seeing an edge.

I also think you need a 8k stone to go between your 4k and 12k Cnat. But that is just because that is what I was taught you need. From what I learned from the JaNorton exercise all you need is the 4/8k stones to be able to set a bevel and shave from it. I did make that happen, even though I think I get a much better edge off the CNat than I ever did off just the 8k alone.

Keep going brother!! I needed all the encouragement I could get when I was doing my first razors, so I am here to encourage you as well!! Us rookies need to support one another!

Great job bro!!

M