First thing that comes to mind

[milant]

I just picked up my first Norton 4k/8k or any other stone for that matter. It's lapped and watered. I picked up a surprisingly good yet really cheap F.W. Engels in great condition, that is not my only shaver. I watched pretty much all the videos out there and read up in the Wiki pages.

And I'm ready to do my FIRST hone!!!

Now, the bevel looks pretty decent so I don't want to start my honing boondoggle by attempting reset the bevel. I want to keep it simple; you know "aim small, miss small" kinda thinking.

Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you hear something like this? I'm interested in quick, instinctive advice from people that have been in my shoes.

Cheers,
Milan

[gooser]

good luck ....lol... thats the first thing tat came to mind ... that and tlet us know how it shaves when your done ...

[10Pups]

Pyramid method !


Think light pressure keep even on the blade.

[Cangooner]

Take your time, don't rush it, and use a light touch.

And good luck!

EDIT: and try to get into the habit right away of flipping the blade spine down to keep your edge well away from the stone. If you do the flip with the edge down, you can ruin it pretty quickly with just a little contact with the stone, then it's back to bevel setting.

[JimmyHAD]

Well have you tried popping hair on your arm with it ..... above the skin ? If it won't do a thumb nail test. The weight of the blade should offer consistent resistance with no rough spots or skipping. Alternatively you could strop it and try shaving. Chances are it may need a touch up but you might have got lucky.

If a razor needs the touch up I would start at the 8k and see what happens. If it needs more you will have to go to the 4k and maybe a 1k would be advisable if you need to set the bevel. You can do it on the 4 but it takes more time.

[Catrentshaving]

If it's popping arm hairs already then you probably have an ok bevel...start there, if you're good then try out the 4k

[milant]

Well have you tried popping hair on your arm with it ..... above the skin ? If it won't do a thumb nail test. The weight of the blade should offer consistent resistance with no rough spots or skipping. Alternatively you could strop it and try shaving. Chances are it may need a touch up but you might have got lucky.

If a razor needs the touch up I would start at the 8k and see what happens. If it needs more you will have to go to the 4k and maybe a 1k would be advisable if you need to set the bevel. You can do it on the 4 but it takes more time.

I gave that some thought. It doesn't pass the HHT, which is to say that I wasn't that lucky on eBay. However, it passes the TNT which is what I'm basing my "decent bevel" statement.

Here is my thinking and you tell me if I'm in the ballpark. Based on what I just described, the bevel is ok (or at least it is now, until I jack it up like Cangooner warned me ). I figure I don't want to invest in 1000 as well until I get some experience. Based what I'm getting from my research even if I have to set the bevel slightly (unless I turn it into a butter knife completely), I can do it with a 4k with a lot of patience and TLC.

What do you think? Is that logic sound?
Cheers,
Milan

[Cangooner]

Don't worry at all about the HHT - it works well for some folks, but needs to be calibrated to be of any use. IMHO thumbnail test is (for me) a better method for judging a bevel.

It is entirely possible to do everything from bevel setting to shave-ready on a 4k/8k Norton. There's a whole thread about that here somewhere (I'll add a link once I find it).

EDIT: here you go: http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

[tiddle]

Take these guys' advice, ignore the hht; test the thumbnail if it passes I do about 5 more laps then test arm hair, if it's good, then 20-30 on the 4k and about 20 on the 8k, strop test shave from there.

[milant]

It is entirely possible to do everything from bevel setting to shave-ready on a 4k/8k Norton. There's a whole thread about that here somewhere (I'll add a link once I find it).

EDIT: here you go: http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

You're a gentleman and a scholar! Ok, maybe you're not, I don't know, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Thanks!
Milan