Thread: My first hone result with pictures

I would only use the diamond pasted side if it's tugging.

I do 30 linen and 50 leather laps everytime before I shave and 10 laps of each after the shave to dry the blade

Originally Posted by sunsweet

I have one unrelated question about stropping. I have a two sided leather suede (both sides) paddle one side I lightly rubb with diamond paste. I do not have a leather strop. My understanding was that you can do it one way or the other. But I find most people use leather. Is it really necessary ?

BTW the other day I shaved after honing without doing any stropping. I will not forget again.

Not I I don't do final words

The only real factor of HHT is the word Calibration, it also never ever can give an indication of how Smooth the shave is going to be, it only can indicate Sharpness...

Each test really has to be calibrated by the guy honing the razor, I remember at the 2009 NC meet we all thought the AHT was pretty much dead to nuts and then we found a guy there whose hair wouldn't pop at 12k

I have or had the same set up as you, a paddle strop with one diamond paste side. At least on my paddle, the darker side was very smooth and soft. I exclusively used it for month. I thought it worked fine but finally purchased another hanging leather strop. I also converted my paddle strop with some of the bark tanned leather sold at Tanny or Woodcraft. Actually any good quality leather if fine. Anyway, the paddle strop with suede worked but I prefer something like latigo or split side (sort of like suede).

Just a quick update after finishing my second honing on the razor. Following the 2k results shown on my last pictures I followed with the Shapton 6k and finally the naniwa 12k. What I learned :

-Coming from the 2k, The shapton 6K first felt like grounded glass and sounded it too but after a few minutes this disappeared and the blade felt like freely sliding on the shapton. It even felt like the shapton was like a suction cup on the blade. I am guessing all these are positive indications.

-The 12k also felt very smooth. very little to no grinding on the blade. Also felt a smooth sliding with some suction.

The final blade bevel looked very nice and much more smooth under the loupe than my first honing attempt at the beginning of this thread. But the blade failed all tests including AHT. I do not use the TNT as a final test because it damages the blade. It looks like will do my 3rd attempt back down with the 2k again. The problem apparently is setting the bevel. The Light reflexion test was useless for checking the bevel. Since it passed. I don't do the TPT because last time i did a few hours later my thumb was sore and swollen. My finger skin is soft. I find none of the proposed test to check the bevel satisfactory methods. I am trying to think of my own test idea that may involve some vegetables.

Originally Posted by sunsweet

...felt like grounded glass

That could be be grit contamination, a frail edge failing, or just large slurry particles. You mentioned an Atoma plate so grit contamination is unlikely if you carefully cleaned the razor between hones. I would try upto 3 sets of 20 strokes on the 6k before going lower. Less metal removal that way.

You are making good progress, keep at it.

Jonathan

thanks for the encouragement. I think it is likely large slurry particles (glass slurry ??) after lapping the shapton with the Atoma plate. It went away completely in a few minutes. I will do 3 x 20 on the 6k as you suggest before going lower.

Originally Posted by sunsweet

It seems some people never get it.
This would be an irresponsible thing for you to do. It is your prerogative not mine. As I said, honing satisfies different goals to different people. This is my razor and no one else will hone it there is no mistake in that. Sending it out would be the mistake for me but I don't think you'll understand. I have no problem practicing honing on a limited edition TI razor.

is that a TI brush with ironwood handle ? It looks exactly like mine.

Have you checked the spine - either with a known straight edge or testing for a slight rocking on either side when laid on the hone?

One other thing I forgot to mention from one of your earlier posts - honing (and stropping) need a certain speed to be effective - therefore your very slow movement will have no practical effect and, I suspect, will not help with muscle memory either as again you need to use a practical speed in order to build this properly.

The brush in my Avatar is a TI in horn. Well spotted ypu must have good eyesight.

Originally Posted by sunsweet

Just a quick update after finishing my second honing on the razor. Following the 2k results shown on my last pictures I followed with the Shapton 6k and finally the naniwa 12k. What I learned :

-Coming from the 2k, The shapton 6K first felt like grounded glass and sounded it too but after a few minutes this disappeared and the blade felt like freely sliding on the shapton. It even felt like the shapton was like a suction cup on the blade. I am guessing all these are positive indications.

-The 12k also felt very smooth. very little to no grinding on the blade. Also felt a smooth sliding with some suction.

The final blade bevel looked very nice and much more smooth under the loupe than my first honing attempt at the beginning of this thread. But the blade failed all tests including AHT. I do not use the TNT as a final test because it damages the blade. It looks like will do my 3rd attempt back down with the 2k again. The problem apparently is setting the bevel. The Light reflexion test was useless for checking the bevel. Since it passed. I don't do the TPT because last time i did a few hours later my thumb was sore and swollen. My finger skin is soft. I find none of the proposed test to check the bevel satisfactory methods. I am trying to think of my own test idea that may involve some vegetables.

You need to learn, and figure out the tests, and what works for you, reading that above tells me that you are flying blind, if you cannot positively without a doubt KNOW the bevel is set, then you are simply grinding away steel...

You very well could be setting and dulling the edge over and over again...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You need to learn, and figure out the tests, and what works for you, reading that above tells me that you are flying blind, if you cannot positively without a doubt KNOW the bevel is set, then you are simply grinding away steel...

You very well could be setting and dulling the edge over and over again...

Ok. I am always doing the AHT and I also look at the blade with the lupe (i know that is no test for sharpness but i can see the eveness). I don't like the TNT there is something creepy about putting a razor edge on a thumb nail but i'll do it. Latest update this morning I went back down and did several lapping on the 6,000 the blade feels really nice on the honing stone and you would think it is ready but it does not cut a single hair on the skin. The only way is to pull hair from the skin and then it will (and still not well) cut it. I am trying to make a hypothesis what I could be doing wrong. Here is my current hypothesis : it's all happening on the 2000 (my lowest grit). Any pressure put on that stone sets a bevel that will not be changed by the other two stones. If the bevel was applied unequally along the edge then no amount of further honing will bring a sharp edge.
What I don't like now is I get a very nice feedback from the stones but blade fail all. First I thought I am getting there and need a few more lapping but it seems nothing changes. If I keep going without lapping the shapton the blade will eventually slide on it as if I was sliding two lubrificated glass plates against each other with no friction at all and with a suction effect. Yet it is not cutting nothing.

I am assuming you have watched the Honing Vids from Lynn and Myself???

If you are having issues still at the bevel set let's stop right there...

Forget every test out there,,,

Do 20 circles with medium pressure, then 20 circles light pressure per side just like Lynn and I show in the Vids.. Stop

Rinse the 2k

Do 20 light accurate X strokes on the 2k making sure the water wave in front of the edge is even along the entire edge.... Stop

Rinse the 2k

Do 5 absolutely as light as possible X strokes like we show at the end of many of the Vids ... Stop


Strop 50 laps on Leather


Test shave... = http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...-test-vid.html

If that test shave doesn't cut hair then you really have some issues