Thread: Today's hone job

I have the same problem with my cheapo c12K stone. All I do is dull the edge, every time. So I go back to my Norton 4/8K stone and settle for an 8k edge. ...Which is really not that bad. The c12K stone frustrates me every time so I've given up on it. The Norton 8K edge is just fine for now.

and you may already know this...but since it hasn't been mentioned yet...
a lot of people recommend that you take the shaft of a screwdriver (or something metal, long, round, and smooth) and run it over your DMT a few times before using. since you are dealing with a plate with diamonds on it, a lot of the time there are some that stick out a little further than others...causing scratches in your stones...so using the screwdriver is what some refer to as "breaking in your DMT" as it takes off some of those over-ambitious diamonds that stick up a little too high and levels out the field, so to speak.

i did that with my 8x3 to be safe and ran into no issues with scratches or gouges. but there are many more qualified to speak to this than me...so if one of them would confirm or deny this, i can then eliminate all risk of having good intentions and bad information

Great video Glen! I think that will help a lot of people.

+1 Ryan is dead on the DMT's when brand new need a break in with steel, a screwdriver shank or just honing a Kitchen knife or Hunting knife will do the trick..
We used to tell people to lap a Barber's hone or a Arkansas stone too

ps: Andrew I don't know if the PHIG is the problem, I have tested maybe 20 of them and very few are "Bad" ,, some are really good, most are good, and others are so-so (not worth the time) but I have only touched one that I thought was really bad and perhaps I didn't take enough time to get it to work...

Originally Posted by AndrewK

I'm like really sure the bevel is set. The razor went through a progression yesterday and I took it back to the 1k today because it needed more time on it I figured. The extra time didn't really make a difference so now I'm looking at my C12k being the problem. I can't get many arms hairs off a 1k but that could be normal for me judging by a reply to another thread and my experience so far. My arm hairs are kinda thick and wiry. Maybe I'm misinformed? I know gssixgun gets his arm hairs off a 1k but another member here said don't worry about that as it's tough. 4k and 8k arm hairs are no prob. 8k is obv better and the bevel looks nice and uniform.

I'm not sure your bevel is set. If you can cut your arm hair at 4k & 8k then your arm hair is not the problem
If you can't easily shave arm hair at 1k, your problem may lie at that stage. Yes you can compensate along the progression for an incomplete bevel but shaving at the 8k level will eliminate the C12k as a factor & give you a better idea of where you're at.

In my opinion, like it or not.....if you can't cut arm hair easily on a 1k, you're bevel is not set, and you're not ready to move stones.

If you want assurance, check the honing forum. A bunch of us just shaved our whole faces from a 1k edge, not just a few arm hairs.

When I move to the 4k, I've got a nice bald patch somewhere on one of my arms, cut right against the skin. Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Andrew just a heads up, there is a Meet Up down in Yakima which is about a 4 hour drive for you, that many of us will be at..
I can promise you that you will learn more about honing there in 1 or 2 days then in 6 months of struggling through by yourself...

This Vid might have some tips for you too,, That is Mark's first time trying the hones

gssixgun Straight Razor Honing with speedster from SRP - YouTube

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