Honing questions.

[joto]

After getting a freshly-honed razor back from forum member Ray-man, it was obvious it was time to practice on a few junk razors to improve my honing skills. The razor I got back from him was SHARP, and put to shame the edges I was putting on my razors. As I am practicing, I had a couple of questions:

As I am attempting to ascend the hone progression to finer and finer stones, I am finding that the edges seem to be losing some sharpness as I move on to higher stones. This is obviously not right, and bothers me- the technique (however good or bad it might be) doesn't seem to be consciously changing from stone to stone. I get a lot of sharpness back when I hit the crox side of the filly strop, but I know I SHOULD be getting perfectly good edges before I even touch a strop. For instance, off a Norton 1k stone I am assuming I am setting the bevel well, as I can pop hairs pretty easily off my arm even if I deliberately dull the edge of the practice razor before honing begins. Go to the 4k, and there seems to be an immediate dropoff in sharpness. There are probably a number of issues that can contribute to this, but what are some that might affect a rank newbie? The stones have been lapped (today, most recently) on a 325 DMT plate, and have the edges rounded. The hones should not be an issue... I don't think...

Also, how would one go about dealing with an edge that is getting sharper at one end than the other? Hone the whole razor until everything is the same, or hone just the problem area and blend the different zone together?

Sorry for what might end up being stupid questions, and thanks for any help and advice.

 

[leighton]

Usually that is because your adding too much pressure during both or one of the stages in the progression.

Another reason is your rolling the edge into the hone on the 4k. Or otherwise doing something really wrong causing damage to the edge.

 

[gugi]

As I am attempting to ascend the hone progression to finer and finer stones, I am finding that the edges seem to be losing some sharpness as I move on to higher stones. This is obviously not right, and bothers me

Good, it should bother you. The main problem in my opinion is your assesment of the edge. How do you determine the edge is losing sharpness?

Also, how would one go about dealing with an edge that is getting sharper at one end than the other? Hone the whole razor until everything is the same, or hone just the problem area and blend the different zone together?

The best is to work on your stroke - it has to be uniform and even. you should pay attention to the water in front of the edge as it will give you an immediate visual feedback on how you're doing.

Specifically on this razor at this point the best approach is to run some circular strokes (4000 grit level, as the bevel is presumably already good) until the edge is uniformly sharp (do series of 20 or may be 30). And then say 20 very light x-pattern strokes and make sure the water displacement is uniform along the whole edge during the stroke. Then do the same x-pattern light strokes on the 8000 grit level. Then strop and shave. Don't go to chromium oxide etc., until you can get good comfortable shave off the 8000 grit level hone.

Honing just the problematic area can be done if one is really really good, like Lynn or Glen for example. I don't think you can get anywhere with it.

 

[leighton]

Also, how would one go about dealing with an edge that is getting sharper at one end than the other? Hone the whole razor until everything is the same, or hone just the problem area and blend the different zone together?

The bevel is not set. It needs to be uniformly sharp along the entire length of the blade. Your either using differing pressure on different parts of the blade. The blade is frowning. The blade is smiling. The blade was duller in one part.

You could also be using the wrong stroke.