Thread: The new guy from Tennessee

Hi everyone! I am new to straight razor shaving and learning new things everyday. SRP in particular has been a wonderful information source for me. What a wealth of knowledgable, helpful people. I have recently begun to hone and it is of course a big challenge for me. As absurd as it may sound to some of you who are far more experienced, I have been using a fine Arkansas and an antique bh. I recently bought a 6k King Ice Bear and to be honest I am getting horrible results with this stone. If anyone has pointers on this stone it would be greatly appreciated. I hope I am just missing something. I soak in water for a minimum of 30 mins before honing and have lapped through 3 pencil grids with a norton lapper. I keep the dwarf cleared as best I can and try to follow the technique I've seen on videos but keep coming up with a blade duller than before. All suggestions appreciated. Thank you

Hello and welcome from Knoxville TN. This is the place to learn about everything Straight but I personally don't know about your stone. I use a complete set of Shaptons and finish with a pasted strop. Someone here should be able to help you progress. Where abouts in TM are you?

That specific stone I can't speak of, but most people use a 12 to 30k grit stone to finish their hone. I have the feeling that your stone is just too course for a finish stone. I use a Norton 8k for my finish and must admit I want something finer, its still a bit course.

Welcome to SRP!

Crossville, TN here just off I-40 about a mile. Where in TN are you located?

There are more str8 razor shavers and SRP members than I thought.

Howdy, and welcome to SRP !!

Columbia,TN which is about 40mi south from Nashville. Good to hear there are people nearby.

I have not made it to finishing stages as of yet. Was still hoping to finish with the bh. However the 6k seems to be dulling the edge after I've taken the blade from the Arkansas stone. I was hoping this 6k would be a good medium between the Arkansas and the bh. By this point I'm hoping it is a personal technique issue. I don't feel that it could be the blade, as I have tried this on 3 separate blades. These blades have behaved well as shavers for me before. I still plan to get a professional to hone at least one of them so that I will know what an excellent hone feels like. Was thinking probably Bob Keyes. He lives somewhat close by...

Welcome aboard from Greeneville TN !

I'm afraid I can't help too much with the honing as I'm in the same boat as photoguy67. Use a norton 4/8 and want something finer

I'm new here too, but I've been honing for a long time. Some people love king stones, some people hate them. For me, they cut too fast and clog up too quickly. When I use them, it's usually to remove rust from something. But, if it is your best hone I'd recommend extremely light pressure using circular motions followed by a strop pasted with jeweler's rouge, and then a strop pasted with chromium.

Good luck

Hi and welcome. Definitely keep the dwarfs off your hones. What ark stone do you have. Some are very fine and you may find that the ark is finer than the ice bear stone. By 6k you really don't want to be using pressure while honing and it wont be shave ready at 6k either. If you can try to meet up with someone and maybe they can shed some light on it for you. Good luck