Dbl Duck making me Daffy!

Greetings from Northwest Indiana. I've recently acquired a razor that is on my List. My list of razors to use before I die...not that I'm in any danger of dying soon. I purchased a dbl duck gold edge on eBay for a good price. After sanding the blade from 400 to 2500 grit and polished up the inlays. It turned out great. Particularly when considering my amateur like bumblings. I got out my Norton 1,4, and 8 k stones. I cut the bevel on the 1k until it popped hair. I then used an aggressive pyramid...25,25, 20, 20...etc.. The razor seemed sharp. I had checked periodically with the thumbpad test throughout the honing process and it seemed good. When it came time to put steel to skin it performed terribly. It shaved rough. It did shave though. I set it aside and finished with my wade and butcher which I also had honed two weeks prior. On the second day of honing I tried a more conservative pyramid since the razor was already quite sharp. And yet again it was another sad day in the shave den. It could be my inexperience. I only have a few razors under my belt. But I am about ready to send it out to get honed. Any suggestions for tweaking my honing technique? I am just worried if I keep attempting to hone thus razor I will damage it somehow and this razor is a work of art. Thanks for any suggestions.

Richard

When I started learning how to hone a razor, I too was obsessed with all the tests you mentioned (thumb test, hair test, you mention it). After a little of practice, I abandoned all of these tests and I just use one: shaving.
A razor can pass the hair test (or any other test) and shave poorly, so, in my opinion, stop using the tests and just focus on the honing techniques, then, let your whiskers and shaving be the ultimate judge.
Of course, this also depends on many factors: stones and razor steel. Not all the stones work the same, not all the steel is the same. I found out some razors seems to like a coticule better while others like a synthetic stone.
Honing technique is however everything: to improve my skill in that I bought a very cheap razor (there are many out there) and made my honing experiments with that. It was very useful.

Perhaps if you describe your pyramid technique a little more specifically, we can give you some pointers. While the pyramid technique can be very helpful, its usage can sometimes obscure where you are going wrong. You might give a standard progression a try, going from 4K to 8K and determining at what stage you are having a problem. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with the pyramid technique, or using it, but this would be a way to determine more precisely where you are going astray.

Hmmmm,,

Honestly unless there is a geometry problem with the razor, or a corrosion problem with the steel, Dubl Ducks are the easiest most consistent brand of razors on the hones...

Pics????

Have you looked at the edge under magnification??

You mentioned Restoration did you "kill the edge" and then re-set the bevel???

Search through the JaNorton thread, and do some reading and watching, there is a plethora of info about honing with just the Nortons in there...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

Honestly you should be able to get a decent shave with just the 1k :) there is a thread about that too :)

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...-1k-shave.html

Pics of the razor hehehe ?????

BTW did I mention Pics of the razor :p

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Sorry for the bad pics my phone doesn't do pics very well. Typically I do sets of twenty circles when bevel setting on 1k. I follow each set with 15 standard x strokes. I use x strokes on the 4/8. I think this evening I will try a standard progression like Ace suggested and check the razor at each stage. I have read the 1k shave that you recommended Glen. Lots of good info in there. If I can't get it shaving tonight I will set it aside and work on my technique with one of my other razors. I'm sure in time I will improve thanks for your advice

Richard

BEEEEEEautiful :tu

I see no issues, just take your time and approach it slowly until she pops...

That JaNorton thread really has some good ideas in there, and the best part of it was that they came from all levels of honers, guys that had just bought their Nortons to Lynn.. It should take a day or two to read through it all and watch the vids in there, which will give your brain some time to rest from the honing :)


Happy Honing makes the razor smile too :)