Thread: Honing question

I have a Clauss 'USMC' razor that I honed using Lynn's more aggresive pyramid on a Norton 4/8. It still needs more work so my question is where do i go from here? Should I complete the entire pyramid again? Should tape be involved? Should I (or should I have) started with another hone?

Any help would be much appreciated. I have honed several razors before and they came out great, This Clauss is just being stubborn.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

If you haven't taped it to start with I wouldn't tape it now. If your confident that the bevel is set then what I have done is pyramids until I got the stubborn blades where I wanted them. Try another aggressive pyramid using the TPT as you go.

IF you have the bevel set, then I absolutely agree with Jimmy. If you don't, then you could be doing those pyramids for quite a while, as it could potentially take a couple hundred strokes, or more, to set the bevel on a 4k. You CAN do it and you don't need another hone. Of course, it would be faster with a 1k hone but your need for it depends on how many razors you intend to hone.

Now, how do you know if the bevel is set???

Learn the thumb pad test (TPT). Regularly test various regions of the blade and pay attention to how they are, or are not, progressing. When the entire length of the blade bites your thumb well, then you can go back to the pyramids. Alternatively, you can also make that determination by when the blade is able to cut arm hair. That test has never worked for me and I don't use it.

As you do the pyramids, continue with TPT to let you know when you might consider stopping the pyramid. If you have doubts about what a sharp blade feels like, get a DE razor blade and use that to train your thumb to the proper level of sharpness.

Good luck!

I am 'fairly' confident the bevel is set. I did check the edge using TPT and my thumbpad was catching. The blade just seemed to need some extra love.

Thanks for the help!
Tom

When you say "…it still needs more work…", do you mean it failed the shave test?
Does easily it cut hair from your arm?
Cutting arm hair can be a good test for the shavabillity of the edge, hold the blade with a light but firm grip and hold the edge about half the height if your arm hair and try to cut them, if they cut easy the edge should be about ready. If they bend and slip under the edge then you know the edge needs refining.

Every now and again you will meet a stubborn blade; some steels are harder than others, and they may need more laps than usual.
So try something a little different…
If you are sure the bevel is set, raise some slurry and stay on the N8K for a few more laps, and it will suddenly get sharp...

Hope this helps.

Tom, I love your signature quote! I've never seen that before but it's great.

When you say, "it needs more work" do you mean its shaving, but its not as smooth/sharp as you would like it to be, or it just won't cut anything? If the latter, the bevel is not set, and you should establish the bevel using a 1k stone. You can use the 4k, but it will take 10x as long. Or 100x, honestly have not tried it.

If its the former, then I suggest sticking with the 8k side, maybe doing a couple of laps on the 4k side at the beginning. Ie, using the end of the pyramid until you have the desired edge. The 1x 4k and 10x 8k part.