Thread: Honing a HESS

I have honed this stainless HESS Milk Labs seven times in the last two weeks and cannot get a shavable edge. I knew stainless was a little harder than regular carbon razors but at this point I feel that I must be missing something. I have tried taping the spine and not taping it. My honing technique is to start out with a 1K Norton, using circles and X strokes, then on to 4K and 8K Norton, finally ending with a 12K Naniwa; just like in the videos. Even though I have been able to get good results from my other razors, this one eludes me. Other than sending to a honemeister, what can I try?

If your finest stone has gotten all the way to the edge and you still are not getting anywhere, I would go to very fine diamonds on any hard flat surface. Could even be sprayed or sprinkled on a piece of wood, and then go to a bare leather strop.

The superstone does tire out a little on tool steels that have a lot of chromium, but it should still eventually refine the edge on that razor.

Diamonds are the equalizer, though, if you can't get the edge sharp using fine diamond powder, then the edge itself isn't actually being worked.

I personally, if I had that, would go with 0.25 micron diamond powder on MDF, or in my case, on a spyderco UF (which works great as a base for powders), and then follow up with chromium oxide powder to soften the edge.

It is concerning that it's not shaving at all, though, I wouldn't be surprised to find out it didn't feel as sharp as a carbon steel razor before diamonds, but if it wasn't shaving at all, I would get a loupe and make sure the naniwa's work got all the way to the edge and made it *through* whatever prior scratches were there leaving evidence only of the 12k naniwa.

After all that honing i would make sure the bevel is set correctly! you can make a thousand pass on the finest finisher but without a good bevel, your just wasting your time. Bevel setting is 98% of the whole process.

Something isn't right...

The Hess #42 and it's big brother the #44 are the best SS shavers I have ever found, they hone very easy with no discernible difference in honing them between them and any carbon steel Hess..

Are you doing the the bevel checking tests (AHT & TNT) at the 1k level and are you passing at least one of them with ease if not that is the problem.. The razor really should be capable of a shave at the 1k level

If the bevel is solidly set and the edge is falling apart at a higher level then something else is wrong

I agree with the above. Use the magic marker test to be sure you are getting the whole edge. Stay on 1k till it shaves arm hair effortlessly from tip to toe and passes the thumb test.

Michael

After recent honings, I have been able to shave arm hair at 1K, but it wasn't effortless. Didn't do the thumb test. Will try again tonight.
All the stones are lapped flat before use so I don't think that is the problem.
One thing that occured to me while honing is that when the blade is taped, the black electrical tape covers most of the 4/8 blade. Could that be a problem? Would a narrower piece of tape be the answer?

Look at the edge of the tape and see if you're just basically beveling the end of the tape instead of working the razor.

Use a marker like described above. It's not critical that you get a super hair shaving edge at 1k, just that you get one that can sever hairs. It might have a bunch of scuzz hanging on the end of the edge from the gnarly aggressive abrasive in a 1k stone, but the scratches should get all the way to the edge and make it shave hair a little.

Your intention in later stages is to work through all of those scratches anyway. there's 9 million ways to test the edge, but it sounds like you're not getting the honing all the way to it at this point.

These little 2/8-3/8 razors that are made of thin stock can be elusive to the new honer and bothersome to those with experience. Make sure you are keeping the razor flat on the stone and watching your pressure both on the bevel set and the finish. Couple of licks of spray or paste on the finish will not be a bad idea either as recommended already.

I'm betting this is just a technique issue that will get better. These are as Glen mentioned, very nice shavers.

Have fun.

I tried again last night with a couple honings, to no avail. I have had a hard time getting an even bevel across the entire length of the blade. The pressure I've applied is probably too much, but I can't think of any other way to even out the bevel. Will keep trying, but may have to send it out.
Thanks for the advise so far, gentlemen.

At some point in the future you want to get ahold of SRP member randydance in your area. He knows much about the Hess Co. When the founder of SRP uses words like “elusive” and “bothersome” that could be an indicator you might have a bit of a challenge ahead.
MIke