Too much bite after my first serious honing attempt
Hi, guys. I've been shaving with a straight razor for about 2, maybe three years. I bought my first razor, a Dovo Best Quality, shave-ready from Straight Razor Designs, and it shaved great, I used it without honing (just stropping) for about one year, then, when it started to feel like it didn't shave as well (though maybe it was just in my mind, because it still shaved great) I bought a chinese 12K stone and I'd give it a few (30 - 50) laps every three or four months. Then a while later I bought an 8000 water stone, but I only used it a couple of times with very few laps, maybe it didn't even make a difference, but I think it shaved a little better after that. Then I bought a 6000 grit stone, but I barely even used it, just very few laps on it once, because I had just bought it and wanted to see what it was like. And that's what I had been doing for the last couple of years, a few laps on the 12K every three or four months, a few on the 8K even less often, less than every six months, I guess, and that was it. The thing is now I bought a new razor, and I want to give this old one as a gift to my father. It was feeling a little less than perfect, so I thought I'd hone it and give it to him in good shape. I started with the 8K and gave it a few more laps than usual, something like 50 or 60 laps, and then a few more on the 12K, about 100. And then I shaved with it, and now it feels a lot worse than before. It has too much bite and it feels a little scratchy, and it gave me razor burn like it never had before. It's still not BAD, if I didn't knew what it was like when I bought it I could shave with it this way and never know better, but it's not as good as it should be. I thought maybe it needed a few more laps on the 12K, so I did that, and maybe it improved a little, I don't know, but it's still not as good as before.
What do I do now!? What I have available is what I mentioned, 6K, 8K and 12K water stones.
A couple other things that might be good to know: I used a dremel to remove a few rust spots from the spine and the sides of the blade, but I was very careful to leave the edge untouched, and I think I succeeded... I don't think I damaged the edge, and it still looks the same to my eye, but I don't know... I could have. I think that would have damaged a specific part of the edge, though, right? And not cause a general decrease in the razor's performance. Also, I tried the hanging hair test, and I can't managed to cut a hair with the razor unless I move the blade reasonably fast towards it. I think it has always been like that, though, even when it shaved well. And I have very thin and oily hair. I also tried running my wet thumb along the edge and it feels fine, just like it always did.
Please help me! The worst part is that I live in Brazil and there's nobody who could hone it for me anywhere near. It has always been a great razor, I'd hate to put it aside and leave it without use because of something so silly.
Thanks in advance!
Daniel
