First time Honing/setting bevel

I have been shaving for about a year, and decided to try to learn how to hone so I can maintain my razors. Bought a Landers Frary & Clark Universal, it was pretty sharp, cut some arm hair, but uneven on edge. I decided to tape the spine, and after honing on my Norton 4k/8k (4k side), I saw I was setting a new bevel because of the tape (It didn't look like it had ever been hones besides at the factory). I started doing the 20 circles, and after an hour or so of honing, I eventually saw the mirror line above the edge get closer and closer to the edge of the blade. One side of the blade has a much taller edge than the other, and it still seems like I haven't sharpened the edge at all. One side looks good, the other side I had to bring the bevel down to the edge. Should I keep working on it until it gets sharper? I'm just not sure if I've reached the edge or not, and if I should still do the circles or what. Thanks for the help!

If I'm reading your post correctly, one bevel is wider than the other. This happens sometimes due to geometry problems or inconsistent pressure. To even the bevel width, hone more on the side with the narrow bevel. Then focus on being consistent one both sides of the razor.

As to if your bevel is set if it isn't sharp don't move on, a 4k can take a long time, with a damaged edge. The LRT (Light Reflection Test) is very helpful. Once you think the bevel is set try a shave test it won't be smooth but it must be sharp.

Have fun on the hones

Jonathan

Here

Straight Razor Sharp Tests - YouTube


That might explain the Light test a bit better :p


Honing for 1 hour on just the bevel is way to long, you are either working on a blown razor, or you are doing something very wrong.. The brand of razor you are using the LF&C is VERY good, can we see a pic ????

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After watching the video, there is a wire edge on the thicker non-universal side. It grabs really well on the wet fingernail test, the heel cuts hair, but the middle and toe don't. I honed a lot more on the thicker edge, because I could see where I was setting the new bevel above the edge, but I never saw a new line forming on the smaller universal side.

I did a lot of circles on the thinner side, the middle/toe was still not cutting hair, then I did the 8k and just a lot of random stuff putting more pressure on the middle/toe, and eventually got it to cut arm hair if I angled it the right way. Not really "pop" it, but cut it. I'm gonna do a test shave tonight. It still has a tiny wire edge I think on one side.