Thread: Success!!!! Long post....

So I was having a really hard time honing for the first time and found myself a mentor who I saw about 2 or 3 weeks ago( Michael aka mjsorkin ). He helped me realize many of the problems that were causing me to fail. So today I figured I'd give it another go using his techniques and I couldn't be any happier to say that I have finally succeeded in honing my first razors- now of course this all hinges on the shave test but I'm very confident as it is passing all the tests that Michael showed me how to test for. I set the bevel with a 1k naniwa chosera, sharpened using circles and x strokes on the naniwa 3k/8k superstore, semi finished it on the 12k naniwa superstone, and finally finished it on my new Zulu Grey stone. Then I stropped 20 on crox and 70 on leather. Needless to say it passes the shaving test on my arm very easily popping hairs and making my arm smooth as silk! It looks like I have finally nailed it all by learning to correct my faults. I will keep everyone posted but in comparing my blades feel, and look under magnification, to a professionally honed blade that I know is shave ready everything matches up, so not to count my chickens before they hatch but it looks like I finally honed my first blade. Thanks Mike for the guidance and lesson and everyone on SRP that helped me a few weeks back.
Sorry for the long post.
Tony

Congrats...the post is not too long!

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Congrats...the post is not too long!

Lol, thanks, the excitement got the better of me!

Feels great don't it!
Let us know how the shave goes

Originally Posted by pfries

Feels great don't it!
Let us know how the shave goes

Feels awesome! I will keep everyone posted.

Congrats! I'm very happy for your success. It's a nice feeling to teach what I've learned.

How'd the razor I honed turn out btw?

Ps I'm getting a Zulu grey too.

Michael

Hey Mike! Thanks for everything, this razor I honed is definitely shave ready from what you taught me. And I just shaved with that razor last night.....it was something special! Real smooth edge, a great shave!

As for the Zulu grey- once I was able to raise the slurry it went real smooth. I would really like to be able to pinpoint the grit range so that I can know for sure that I am not being redundant. For example if its a 12k I don't want to use the 12k Superstone Id just use the Zulu grey.

anthogia,
keep in mind with a natural just because the grit ratting is "the same" or similar does not mean the resulting edge/smoothness will be.
Play with it to see what gets the best feeling edge for you, you may like the 12k in the progression even if the grit ratings are similar.

Originally Posted by pfries

anthogia,
keep in mind with a natural just because the grit ratting is "the same" or similar does not mean the resulting edge/smoothness will be.
Play with it to see what gets the best feeling edge for you, you may like the 12k in the progression even if the grit ratings are similar.

This is true. I have to keep honing and see what feels best, there's prob alot that I need to take into account with a natural as we'll such as slurry vs. none, slurry thickness, etc. Thanks for the advice!
T