Take two: Learning how to set bevel - again.
Hi,
I tried to learn how to hone (set bevels) about 9 months ago and did not really learn. Partly because I had a bad razor to practise on. I took the advise of others a got a Maxard razor from Glen. 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.
At the moment I am practicing on a swedish frameback and I got it to a hair popping sharp but only after honing a ton on the 3/8k (maybe like 300 laps total).
I have few problems and the hardest one is knowing when to lay off the pressure while bevel setting on coarser stones. I am using the 1k king and it seems every time when I get the edge to exhibit some kind of drag on the TNT then shortly after it will feel completely dull again and wont cut hair either. I noticed that they king stone needs to lapped every 20-30 passes as it looses its bite very fast.
I had a scale to measure the pressure I am using so I know I am not using way too much, but it seems every time I some how overshoot the bevel setting stage. That seems odd to me because watching the videos by Lynn and Glen, you can see that they use a lot of pressure and the swarf turn grey really fast while bevel setting. What should I look for/feel as I approach bevel set on the hone? I just never get there on the 1k.
Then the two other issues relate to feeling. First, even though that edge is popping hairs off of my arm, I can not feel a thing on the TPT. (Maybe just a hint of stickyness after stropping the frameback). When I got the razor honed by glen I remember that the edge felt sticky on the TPT. Now that is telling me that my bevel is still not thin enough, and thus not set. But how do I get there?
The other feel related issue is feeling the edge on the hone. Glen says he can feel a bunch of things when he is honing (like rough spots). I can not feel diddley squat. What should I look for?
Thanks, for any help.
Take two: Learning how to set bevel - again.
Bevel setting can be pretty tricky but the king is a good hone. The Swedish steel is pretty hard but the frame-backs are skinny and will take an edge pretty quickly.
For starters I would leave circles out of the equation for now. While circles are an effective stroke and you will want to added later. Right now it is just adding an added element.
Now is your frame-back a straight edge or does it have a slight smile. Many of the Swedish frame-backs have very slight smiles.
If the edge is straight I would use a standard x stroke. Basically the same stroke you have learned stropping just with the edge leading this time. I would do:
20 laps with pressure
10 laps no pressure
Test edge (I like trying to dry shave arm hair. TNT is good to and TPT)
If the edge doesn't pass do another
20 laps with pressure
10 laps no pressure
Test edge
You can continue like this till your passing the test. I recommended using multiple test. If you use the TNT and pass remember you need to do more laps to smooth out the damage caused by the TNT.
After you get the bevel set I recommend following the advice in this wiki post by Lynn http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...d_honing_guide