Thread: What am I doing wrong?

I brought a Dovo razor (new) a while ago and still haven't been able to hone it. I thought I'd got there today, but when I tried shaving it was very blunt.

Initially I ordered a hone from Amazon that was 1500/4000 and used it but then I found out online that 4000 grit isn't enough. So, I brought a 12k stone from eBay. I have spent over an hour this last few days honing the blade with this stone just as the various videos on eBay demonstrate - bit of tape, holding it flat, pushing in the direction of the blade, rather than away from, not too much pressure etc etc.

But it just isn't working.

Could it be that my early attempts at honing (when I didn't know what angle to use) messed up the blade?

Or could it be that my hone is actually not 12k?

Or does it just take a really long time?

All advice and thoughts welcome. Thanks in advance

IMO I'd send it in for the first time then refresh it with the 12k as you go. And while it's out read more about honing. You need a progression. 1k to set bevel and you go up in grit from there.

This should help

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...uide_to_Honing

Send it to a pro.

While I agree with the advice to send it out the first time, I also realise you have spent money on stones so would want to try honing yourself.

So in that spirit I would suggest that your razor needs work at the lower end of the grits before hitting a high grit stone like that 12K. Even a new Dovo - I always do a bit of bevel work on any new Dovo I receive, then move up the grits in the usual way. Using a 12K stone to try to hone a razor without a decent bevel is like trying to make the Grand Canyon with a toothpick - you'll get there eventually, but it will take billions of years...

I do not know what your lower grit combination stone is, but it probably needs lapping (flattening), as does/will the 12K stone. Also, jumping from 4K to 12K is a fairly big (though not insurmountable) leap. Most people have a 6-8K stone in there somewhere also. However, at this stage you can make do with what you have if you do the work properly on that 1500/4000 grit stone first.

Good luck!

James.

If you really want to hone. I would send out the dovo and buy a cheap razor at like a antique shop or whipped dog (unhoned) etc and practice on that. That way u know what a shave ready razor feels like and you can practice on the cheap one to get it to shave readiness IMO

Hi Sweenie,

What's the brand/make of stone?

4k is nowhere near fine enough, and the jump from 4k to 12k is a bit large - should probably have something around 8k in between.

I'm also not sure what you mean by 'not knowing what angle to use' - did you try to freehand it, like honing a knife? The spine and bevel both rest on the hone, so in effect the razor sets its own angle.

You really need to get a decent loupe of around 10x - 12x magnification to inspect the bevel with - it is time to move on from the low grit hone when both sides of the bevel meet without a flat strip in between them. If you don't do this, each higher grit hone will just polish the bevel sides and leave the flat, blunt strip untouched...(there are exceptions, but with the hones you have that's basically it).

Regards,
Neil

what kind of 12k stone did you get? The Chinese natural?

Wellcome to SRP perhaps you are trying to run before you can walk at this time

Hi all... Thanks for some great advice.

The 12k stone I have was from eBay. Tell me what you think HUGE NATURAL PURPLE SLATE RAZOR HONE LLYN MELYNLLYN SHARPENING STONE KNIFE TOOL | eBay

Originally Posted by sweenie

Hi all... Thanks for some great advice.

The 12k stone I have was from eBay. Tell me what you think HUGE NATURAL PURPLE SLATE RAZOR HONE LLYN MELYNLLYN SHARPENING STONE KNIFE TOOL | eBay

i think that you need to learn synthetic stones before you jump on naturals.
You need 1k 4/8k stones , learn how to use them to perfection , then add natural polishers if you feel the need.