Thread: Not quite there yet

There is nothing wrong with a micro bevel. There are people that go there on purpose, in fact that is how Tim Zowda finish his edges, and they shave rely well. It could be that you just had not gone quite far enough with your finisher, another 20 strokes and it would have been perfect. It is one of those things that requires a lot of sharpening to get perfect first shot. Honing with others, especially at meets accelerates the learning. In the end you may choose to go back to micro bevels.

Well how did the shave go did beard come off easily? Did the razor pull or was it harsh irritating etc.

It shaved a little rough. Not a close shave after 3 passes

You may need to revisit the bevel set and how you are assessing it with the micro scope. I use a loupe. In post 9 the what to look for is how I also do that.

Ok what Rezdog said is good advice . You might also try using a little dish soap in your spray bottle for the 12k and try another round of finishing strokes.

Thanks for the photos, solves much of the mystery.

The stabilizer is keeping the heel off the stone and your bevels are not complete. You are only honing the toe half of the edge.

There is excessive and uneven wear on the bevel & spine, indicative of heavy pressure and hone wear marks on the stabilizers of both sides.

If you look straight down on the edge the edge, it will most probably reflect light back at you, the bevel is not fully set. The toe half may meet, but not the heel.

Put 2 layers of tape on the spine to protect what remains of the gold wash and Ink the bevel with colored ink, (easier to see). Then hone heel forward about 30 degrees, so the stabilizer is off the edge of the stone and do a slight rolling x stroke. Keep the heel on the stone until about half the length, then curve your X stroke so the toe ends in the middle of the stone, not at the lower corner.

Make sure the stabilizer is off the hone, angling of the razor, heel forward will hone the heel and a slight rolling X stroke will reach the whole edge.

After one pass on each side, check the bevel to see if you are honing to the edge, you probably will not be. Re- ink and stay on the 1k until you have a flat bevel all the way to the edge. Use moderate pressure, do not be tempted to using excessive pressure, it will only cause you more problems.

You will have to spend some time on the 1k to correct the bevels. Change tape when you first see it is wearing, you will see little bits of tape in the swarf, and you will feel a slight dragging of the razor on the stone.

Now because of the uneven spine wear, you will have to hone with tape to get an even bevel or grind the spine even, not recommended. It is too bad a lot of the width has been ground away.

You also will need to reshape the heel and toe, the heel will eventually cut you, if not corrected.

It still can be made to shave well. Take your time.

Nice diagnosis I can't see much from my mobile phone lol

Thanks for the help. Now I wonder if all my razors I have honed the same way. How do you reshape the heel and toe? I will try it tonight and let you know how it goes.

You really should look around for some hands on learning with someone. You will be amazed how fast you can learn with an experienced member.

Anyone in Maryland? I agree hands on is the way to go. I did teach myself to shave with straight razor with u tube and a computer