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help/advice needed
Tried my first hone.
Lapped the Norton combo of course and soaked it of coarse.
Few strokes on 4k side. tested on thumbnail and it dug down slightly and drew smoothly.
So far so good so I moved onto 8k. did about 10 strokes. stropped and shaved and it tugged.
went back to 8k and did another 10 stroked and stropped and shaved and it tugged.
For giggles, I tried thumb NAIL test and it didn't dig in at all.
Dont no where to go from here. any suggestions?
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The TNT is a destructive test, even at 1k the edge will be damaged and need more 1k work. So go back to the 4k. Hone it till it passes the TPT and don't use the TNT after the bevel set.
Have fun on the learning curves.
Jonathan
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The only time to do the thumbnail test is when you are buying a razor. Lick your thumbnai and drag the edge along it, this will let you feel every little nick in the edge.
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Was this a NEW blade or a ebay or antique store blade?
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dont know if I used too much pressure. it is a Dovo Best Quality razor from Jacks country store, so I'm assuming it was not shave ready. I really want to learn this skill because like many of you, I want to be an expert from shaving to honing.
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An't as easy as you'd think it should have been!(:-) why can you sharpen a kitchen knife on the bottom of a coffee cup and it talk a couple of hundred bucks to do a razor??!! It just isn't fair!(:-)
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That Dovo is a perfect beginner's razor, not only for the cost but also because it's easy to hone. Start with light pressure on the 4k, few passes then go to very light or no pressure, until you can shave arm's hair with all sections of the blade. ONLY then move to the 8k and continue with very low or no pressure at all. While doing so carefully look at the water wave in front of the edge and try to understand how much regular it is and why.
Before doing so try to look at the many youtube video carefully.
When you think it's done go with 50-100-200 strops VERY LIGHT pressure. at this point it should pass the HHT.
Then shave, and tell us.
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I will take an educated guess that the bevel is not quite set on that blade. A few strokes on the 4k may not be enough. I would suggest you get the bevel set completely and then move onto the 8k. In all actuality you should be able to get a shave off of a 4k. Use light pressure on the 4k once the bevel is set, then move to the 8k with light pressure. Is this your first time shaving, or just first time honing?
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Here is more advice on using the Norton 4/8 then you ever care to know :p
http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html
That thread has advice from Beginners and Experts alike which makes it invaluable for a Norton user
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1st time honing. sounds like great advice. I spoke with Bob from Bobs vintage razors and he said if I was using a magnifier to check my progress then I wouldn't know how I'm progressing. I guess it's like cutting diamonds
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for laughs I decided to try the circle method on the 4000k and then 5 to 10 X strokes. well it started popping arm hairs up and down. then I did 10 strokes on 8k and then 50 laps on green oxide and then 100 on strop and hairs were popping all over the place. my face has to heel but I think my next shave should be much better.
I'll quote Mr. Abrams."Using the circle process is the most consistent process I have ever found, in my experience, to produce great edges on all types of razors every day. Nothing fancy and very straight forward. Learn to keep the blade flat and the appropriate pressure and your in for a lifetime of good shaving."
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i try to help. please forgive bad english. i want sharing my personal experience. i shaving with straight razor over 40 years. in begining it was very hard to sharpen for me. i look for my father and also my grandfather no problems. it take me some times and experience becoming good with stone and also stroping. after i practicing i become more simple for me. i feel secret is you not rushing. take time for sharpening. flat stone. flat razor on stone. light touching slow moving until you are experience. if you relaxing and no pressure even it will be perfect in end. do not worry. it will come for you soon. excuse poor english. i wishing i can say in russian.
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I wish I could read Russian. I can't even write it so you're one up on me. Thanks for the advice, I will try it
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I'm guessing that moving from 4k to 8k, and dulling the edge, would be the greatest possible indicator of a poor stroke ever produced. I could not think of a better test for this issue.