Hi everyone Honing beginner looking for help

Hi mates,

I am looking to have few questions answered about honing.
I had a mischief on my first honing experience.
Long story short, a store owner told me 1k is perfect for honing straight razors.
Which I found out isn't.
After doing my first honing I am still able to shave myself.
However the razor leave's much more irritation on my skin and the sharpened edge is quit
smaller as I remember.
So here are my questions!
1 : Do I keep my 1k stone? Will it ever come handy?
2: Which stones should I get? Notice, I'm a student, my budget is quite small.
3: When I honed my razor I did few stroke's on the wet stone with the X pattern while holding each side's of the blade to keep it steady and straight.
Is there any other type of techniques I should know about?
4: I heard about pyramidal honing Technic, what is it?
5: Some people suggested me, on my last thread, to take my razor to someone who is a specialist at honing. I don't feel very at ease sending my razor throw mail. Is there anyone is the Montréal area that could show me the basics?

So that's about it folks!
I've already appreciated all the suggestions I received, Keep em coming!

Simon.

If you give us your location, there are mentors in many localities that teach and help folks with problems.
And, the shave wiki does have some information:
/Category:Hones
There are many threads that could help you learn more about honing. Read many of them to get a better idea of the task. Use the search function also to find them.
~Richard

Thank you for your reply.
I live near Montréal in Québec, Canada.
How can I find someone?

Hey Simon,

1) I think you should keep your 1K, good for setting the bevel...

For the other questions, I would listen to this ...

gssixgun Honing on a Norton 4-8 - YouTube


Cheers,

1 : Do I keep my 1k stone? Will it ever come handy?
As mentioned 1K is good for blade restorations, and heavy bevel setting.

2: Which stones should I get? Notice, I'm a student, my budget is quite small.
There are many places in this forum that recommend using a 4/8k Norton stone for beginners finishing on a plain leather strop.

3: When I honed my razor I did few stroke's on the wet stone with the X pattern while holding each side's of the blade to keep it steady and straight.
Is there any other type of techniques I should know about?
There are Many different techniques to honing razors, rolling x strokes for smiley razors, circles for fast bevel setting and problematic bevels, increasing weight on portions of the blade that aren't taking a bevel. There are many different methods as you get more proficient in honing techniques. I would start with basics and move on from there.

4: I heard about pyramidal honing Technic, what is it?
No idea, never tried/heard of it.

5: Some people suggested me, on my last thread, to take my razor to someone who is a specialist at honing. I don't feel very at ease sending my razor throw mail. Is there anyone is the Montréal area that could show me the basics?
I hope somebody in Montreal replied, however ... sending your razor in the mail wrapped in bubble wrap is absolutely fine. If you are very touchy you can use a small box to send it in. Get insurance if you are really worried. It is highly unlikely that somebody from the forum would steal from you (though not impossible). You can also send to a professional who has a website and testimonials.

Simon

There is a wealth of information here on SRP and links to great video. Use them it will make your learning so much easier and quicker.

Bottom line you will need your 1K and at least a 4/8K combo stone. With those 3 stones you are set. You can add some Chrome Oxide and any kind of strop for the next level of comfort.
Learning to strop is as important as learning to hone. You will strop every day.

Pyramid honing is simply honing on 2 grades of stones alternating from a higher grit to a lower grit and back to the higher grit. What it does is smooth out the edge by flattening the high spot on the land of the stria. Honing grit creates a valley, the groove and the corresponding hill the land, (land/groove). The goal of polishing is to progressively reduce the high spots and smooth the edge. Pyramid honing is just one way to accomplish this.

Sending your razor out for Pro honing is highly recommended for new honers because it give you a baseline, something to compare your honed razor to.

thx for your information

I too was in your position last year but being in the UK a Norton 4/8k isn't really a viable option. I went down the route of a Coticule and soon foudn out it was a real hassle to set a bevel on an Ebay special :)

So I got a King 1/6k. Works a treat now.

Looking back on it, I probably should've gone down the Naniwa route. 1k,5k,8k,12k.

For what it's worth, I'm loving my Norton set of stones. The 4/8 is essential and really all you need. the 1k, as previously stated, is a great bevel setter. For more information on the Nortons, I refer you to this ....

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

There is a lot of great information in that thread alone along with videos, tips, etc. The thing to remember is that the "correct" honing method and tools are what work for you!

Have fun learning, it can be addictive!