basic questions

[joshuastar]

Just gave it my first go with honing. I had Larry at WH send me a straight and I'm going to send it back to get his opinion on how I did. I have other questions, though:
1. Here are my stones (thanks danjared!): I assume I use the light-colored side and that the dark side is just a slate backing. Or can I use both sides?
I will say that the dark side has bevels all the way around, and the light side only has a bevel on one side.


2. Is there a specific way to clean the slurry off the stones?

3. the razor was unable to cut my arm hair when I started. I made probably close to 200 laps (x-strokes) on the lighter side of the stone and then about 120 on the linen side and 120 on the leather side of my strop, and it was able to take off the arm hair pretty nicely. Is there a point of diminishing returns? Or maybe a point where I start undoing my work?

4. I was using two hands: hand #2 was putting a bit of pressure on the blade with my fingertips as I made my laps.


Thanks for the help! Any advice is appreciated.

 

[MilkyLee]

That looks like a natural combo stone. You can use both sides. I like using the BBW side (purple) to refine the edge and then go back to the coti for final finishing.

Just rinse the stone off under running water and use your hand to help wash the slurry off. I dry my stones off with a microfiber towel. I also hone that way for most razors but do some of my finishing strokes with one hand though.

I think if you stay on slurry too long you will start to get what they call slurry dulling so as long as you are diluting and then continuing to rinse your stone while finishing you should be fine. On water only finishing I use a spray bottle and spray the stone after every 10 strokes. I'm sure the more experienced gents will chime in and give you some better advice.