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Thread: 5 Years and still struggling

  1. #1
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    Default 5 Years and still struggling

    Dear honing enthusiasts,

    I am definitely in need of advice. I have been straight razor shaving for 5 years now and have been honing my razors that whole time. For most of that time, I used a Norton 4k and 8k. I keep my stones lapped using glass with 3m wet or dry 400 grit. For a while I finished on strops with various diamond and other pastes, then moved to whatever 12k they sell on classic shaving. Recently I tried the diamond lapping films from Lee Valley, with no luck at all. Today, I tried with my brand new Naniwa 1k and 5k, followed by the norton 8k and the unknown 12k. I have a TI razor and a Hart, and keep up the edges on my brother's TI and my brother in law's Dovo.

    My problem is inconsistency. I always sharpen till I get a nice edge on the razors, but the problem is that sometimes I get the nice edge after the first progression through the grits, and sometimes I have to come back to it a few times before it is any good. I haven't given up because I know I can get a great edge, but I am frustrated by how hit or miss it is. I have tried taping the spine, not taping the spine, circles, x strokes, straight strokes and whatever else I see in the videos. Frankly, I feel like I am getting worse at this as I get more experience and equipment.

    In watching the videos, it seems to me that the expert gentlemen demonstrating could get a nice edge using just about any combo of strokes and equipment, and not only that, they are chatting away while doing it and not utterly engrossed like me. I can appreciate that they have worked hard to make it look easy, and I am dying to know what I am doing wrong. To me, it looks like I am exactly following the various methods and progressions shown. Is there some common error that I am probably making? I only hone every few months; is there some motion I am likely getting wrong? I have become convinced that I must be spazzing out somehow, because I have great equipment, and am worried that my wife's eyebrows might raise right off her head if any more sharpening stuff shows up on the porch.

    I would greatly appreciate your advice.
    Thanks,
    Justin

  2. #2
    Pasted Man Castel33's Avatar
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    I am sure some of the top guys will be by to give more in depth help but for me I found two rules that work best for me.

    1. Keep it simple. Ie choose the hones you are going to use and use them till you are getting consistent results. I know you have been doing this so far but really you need to figure out why you aren't getting the results you want every time with your original set up. Adding more stones actually is making it harder for you to figure out where you are going wrong.

    2. More is not better on the hones. Many people feel the more strokes they do the better the edge will be this is not true with honing though. The more strokes you do you are likely to build an destroy many good edges in that time. I test my edges often and early when I hone.

    One other thing to remember is that not even the best honers get the edge right every time the first time.

    Also you asked for help but didn't tell us about your honing routine. Giving that will go along way to getting help?
    ratbag likes this.

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  4. #3
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    I would recommend building on the stones and methods you have success with rather than trying to keep varying both.

    Once you get consistency under your belt your confidence will increase and and you won't tend to keep at the things causing you the problems. In most cases pressure is key and particularly using minimal pressure from the 8K through finishing. Another thing is to try less strokes vs. more.

    Remember that the more you obsess, the more frustrating it is. Learn to walk away from the razor and come back at it the next day.

    Build on your successes.

    Have fun.

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    Hones & Honing randydance062449's Avatar
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    When I teach people how to hone there are 2 common mistakes.

    1. The honing stroke is to fast. That leads to lack of control and uneven contact with the hone.
    2. 60/40 weight distribution. Frequently guys think the edge is fragile and consequently put more pressure on the spine then they do on the edge. This should be reversed. More pressure on the edge and less on the spine, kinda 60% edge/40% spine.

    Slow down and watch the water flow from heel to toe.
    Randolph Tuttle, a SRP Mentor for residents of Minnesota & western Wisconsin

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    Predictably Unpredictiable Mvcrash's Avatar
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    Great advice from the best. It took me a while to understand that slower is better.
    “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
    Albert Einstein

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  10. #6
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
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    I personally think this is the most helpful vid I have done, because it isn't me honing, it is me helping to teach a new honer.. Sometimes we make things look to easy, I have the same issue when I watch Vids on Woodworking and Turning, makes me want to punch the guy in the Vid because I swear I do the same thing and my stuff looks nothing like theirs


    gssixgun Straight Razor Honing with speedster from SRP - YouTube


    See if that Vid might give you some ideas of where you are going wrong

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  • #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
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    FWIW, I have also been honing for 5 years. I don't hit a home run every time I come up to bat. Some razors are more work than others. Another thing that comes to mind is how many times you've come up to bat. I wanted to learn to hone and had RAD at the same time. So I have gone through a couple of hundred of the darn things. Saying that with more razors to hone a person gets more experience. Not suggesting that you buy a couple of hundred razors BTW. Randy told me years ago to use the 8k as my benchmark for shave testing before going on up to the 12k.

    Before he told me that I went through the progression to the 12k whether the razor was ready or not. This led to a lot of frustration. Now I shave test at 8k and only if I am satisfied with the results do I go up the grit ladder. Even then, I may need to return to the finisher to further dial the edge in to my satisfaction. Anyway, I think all of us have a certain amount of inconsistency with one honing attempt or another. Just like Lynn said, know when to walk away and come back another day.

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  • #8
    Senior Member Mephisto's Avatar
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    I think I destroyed a razor before I started getting in the ballpark.I realized that I was using too much pressure and I did not have good contact with the stone. My razor looked like it had been used for a lifetime not 1 year. I am still using paste/sprays to really get the blade honed in after the Norton 8k but I am sort of getting there. Anyway, maybe, through the destruction I learned something.
    From their stillness came their non-action...Doing-nothing was accompanied by the feeling of satisfaction, anxieties and troubles find no place

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  • #9
    zib
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    There are lot's of variables when it comes to honing, You, The stones, and the condition of the razor your honing. Using the same stones like you mentioned is a good idea. That will help you build consistency. Some things I've learned.

    All razors are not created equal.
    Your 1k edge should feel shave ready to the touch or TPT.
    Use more pressure when setting a bevel, and almost no pressure when finishing, just the weight of the blade.

    I know it can be frustrating after so many years. We all have those moments. That's when you need to put things away, like Lynn said, and come back the next day with a fresh perspective.
    We have assumed control !

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  • #10
    'with that said' cudarunner's Avatar
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    You’ve received good counsel from some of the best there are out there!

    When I was learning to hone; Glen’s (GSSIXGUN) videos were of great help! with that said, the one where he sits down with speedster would have been GREAT!!!

    My meager counsel would be to listen to all above and also to please watch the video that Glen recommended as it really is a great learning tool!

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