Thread: Honing for a noob.

Hey chaps,

So I am new to the world of straights but i've been interested in them for a long time, I recently got a kit online from Classic Edge with a Dovo 5/8's half hollow ground straight (which unfortunately I got a small chip near the toe) and before that I got a sh**** sovereign cheap thing. I recently acquired a set of 1k, 3k, 8k and 12k Naniwa super stones and decided to practice honing tonight with the cheap razor. I followed the video Lynn has on start to finish honing with the stones but I found that after it was still barely popping hairs from my arm so i'm pretty sure thats not shave ready.

My first question is do you think the steel in the cheaper razor could be the problem or is it more likely my poor technique (which I am drawn stronger to)?

My second question is to get the tiny chip in my Dovo out would you recommend starting with the 1k or just doing 3k onwards?

Obviously its better to send it to a pro to get it done but i'd like to do it myself if I can as I would like to start restoring straights.

Any advice is welcome.

Sharpening is fairly easy once you get the 1k stage right.

Cheap steel, like a "Master" brand, can be almost impossible to put a razor edge on. Probably best to practice on an inexpensive and known razor made of good steel.

If you're using the HHT test then try a shave test instead, until you get used to using the HHT.

I have used a ~ 1k diamond hone to "dress-up" a small chip at the toe of a razor. Just go slow.

Thanks for the advice Sticky,

So I decided to have a go at taking the tiny chip out of my Dovo this morning and I basically just went with the 3k stone then the 8k stone then the 12k stone and it took the chip out just fine but I'm not sure if I got it sharp enough, I shaved with it right after but it felt like it was tugging a lot. I don't know if that was just because I had a weeks worth of stubble or I didn't manage to get it sharp enough. I ordered a new strop a few days ago a 3" English bridal and I also ordered 0.5 diamond spray and some chromium oxide. Would using those on the strop make my shave a little smoother?

On a positive note I managed a full shave with no nicks or cuts

What I would ask, not pretending to be any sort of expert is, did you totally reset the bevel? Was it originally honed with a taped spine and did you follow suit?
Did you change the tape during honing?
One mistake that I, after a year and a bit of honing make is rushing the bevel set. It get's very frustrating at times being close but not quite there. You know it's not perfect but move on up the grits thinking "it will get better" It doesn't. Smiling wedges continue to be the thorn in my side, they just take so long to get perfect.

Get a jewellers loupe and start looking at the edge and the bevel, you won't know what you are looking for for a while but gradually you start to recognise the good from the bad, it's a handy guide along side popping hairs.
Get the bevel set correctly and you 90% there.

P.S. IMO if you are finishing on a Naniwa 12k(no pressure strokes) then anything other than a stropping on leather isn't going to bring much to the party

Yeah after just watching gssixgun's honing videos I'm thinking its a bevel issue. I'll try again tomorrow probably and put much more time into it. I'll let everyone know my results after.