I was asked how I hone in a thread, so here it is.
I set my bevels on a Norton 1k. I like it cause it's pretty fast/aggressive, and this is good for me cause I have a soft spot for wedges. If I could go back and do it again, I would probably get a Naniwa Chosera 1k, but that's not to say I'm unhappy with my Norton. Anyway, if I have a lot of work to do (chips/small frown), I'll drop down to my Naniwa 400. I prefer this over the Norton 220 because I find the Norton 220 releases grits very quickly, and these scratch the razor above the bevel and below the spine wear.
Once I have my bevel set, I move up to my Naniwa 5k. Sounds like a big jump, right? It's not. The Naniwa 3k and 5k can be used more or less interchangeably, but I prefer the 5k. I like the end result marginally more than with the 3k in it's place. Here is where it gets a bit "advanced." I start out with circles with "pressure," then circles with no pressure, and finish with 10-15 X strokes. In order for this to work, you have to be able to be able to apply pressure evenly across the whole razor, match the pressure when you switch to the other side of the razor, and know how much to use and when to back off either by checking the edge (makes the process very slow) or by feeling the feedback. I can't really provide numbers, because it depends on how firm you are. It's something you have to have the confidence to play around with, and I don't recommend it to new guys. It's very easy to end up with severe uneven wear on a razor.
From there I move up to the Naniwa 8k. All it takes is 10-20 X strokes, again depending on the honer. Oh, I guess there is also a dependence on the razor, because if the razor smiles, you need more strokes (smiling razor means each portion of the edge gets less hone time per stroke, so you need more strokes).
Next it's finisher time. I use my Asagi for the vast majority of razors that I hone now, but sometimes I use my vintage Thurry. I don't use my C12k or my coti anymore. C12k takes too long, and I get better shaving edges off my Asagi, Thurry, or C12k. Number depends on your individual hone, and naturals tend to be slower cutters than synthetics. Naniwa 12k will take 10-15 strokes. C12k will take at least 100. Most others fall somewhere in the middle.
Next is the strop. I still have the first strop I ever got, which is a second hand TM ... starter or apprentice or travel or something like that. Not fancy, only leather, no linen. 50 strokes, and then it's shave time.
Any questions?
I set my bevels on a Norton 1k. I like it cause it's pretty fast/aggressive, and this is good for me cause I have a soft spot for wedges. If I could go back and do it again, I would probably get a Naniwa Chosera 1k, but that's not to say I'm unhappy with my Norton. Anyway, if I have a lot of work to do (chips/small frown), I'll drop down to my Naniwa 400. I prefer this over the Norton 220 because I find the Norton 220 releases grits very quickly, and these scratch the razor above the bevel and below the spine wear.
Once I have my bevel set, I move up to my Naniwa 5k. Sounds like a big jump, right? It's not. The Naniwa 3k and 5k can be used more or less interchangeably, but I prefer the 5k. I like the end result marginally more than with the 3k in it's place. Here is where it gets a bit "advanced." I start out with circles with "pressure," then circles with no pressure, and finish with 10-15 X strokes. In order for this to work, you have to be able to be able to apply pressure evenly across the whole razor, match the pressure when you switch to the other side of the razor, and know how much to use and when to back off either by checking the edge (makes the process very slow) or by feeling the feedback. I can't really provide numbers, because it depends on how firm you are. It's something you have to have the confidence to play around with, and I don't recommend it to new guys. It's very easy to end up with severe uneven wear on a razor.
From there I move up to the Naniwa 8k. All it takes is 10-20 X strokes, again depending on the honer. Oh, I guess there is also a dependence on the razor, because if the razor smiles, you need more strokes (smiling razor means each portion of the edge gets less hone time per stroke, so you need more strokes).
Next it's finisher time. I use my Asagi for the vast majority of razors that I hone now, but sometimes I use my vintage Thurry. I don't use my C12k or my coti anymore. C12k takes too long, and I get better shaving edges off my Asagi, Thurry, or C12k. Number depends on your individual hone, and naturals tend to be slower cutters than synthetics. Naniwa 12k will take 10-15 strokes. C12k will take at least 100. Most others fall somewhere in the middle.
Next is the strop. I still have the first strop I ever got, which is a second hand TM ... starter or apprentice or travel or something like that. Not fancy, only leather, no linen. 50 strokes, and then it's shave time.
Any questions?
