Quote Originally Posted by MikkoK View Post
Hi,
I tried to learn how to hone (set bevels) about 9 months ago
.....
. It has been great and I have used it for this time without honing, just stropping. Now I can say that I think I know how to shave with a straight, but still learning. The edge of the Maxard is not holding up forever so I need to learn how to hone my razors.
.....
Thanks, for any help.
There are two things to pay attention to here.
One is setting a bevel on a neglected razor and
refreshing the edge on a good shaver.

If you have a good shaver that needs to be refreshed
use light pressure and a minimum of honing.

Pressure will flex a razor in odd ways. When a bevel
gets set the good hands use pressure at first then
relax so the hone and razor mate.

So to refresh a razor on a 3k/8k or 4k/8k hone.
Lap both sides of the hone flat. This need not
be done every time. The important bit is that
both sides have the same shape. Equal dishing is
OK.

Run light circles up and back on the 3k(or 4k) side.
Then 10-15 normal hone strokes up and back on 3k.
Next switch to the 8k side.
Again light pressure, circles up and down
then 10-15 hone strokes up and back rinse,
dry, strop.

Refreshing an edge easy does it. Dark swarf
is a hint that you are over doing it unless you
have one of the white hones out there.

It is possible to refresh an edge on the 8K side alone
and not lap the 8k hone flat after the first time.

I did the never lap thing with a coticle for 20+ years
and only had two razors, it works. It fell apart badly
when I got more razors and hones in my kit so I do not
recommend it. A good shave results from consistent
methodology which is hard when you are learning.

Light consistent touch...