Looking for Honing Tips and New techniques

[ChopperStyle]

Hi All,

Just checking in to say hi and really glad to have found this forum for traditional shaving methods. Been shaving with straights for about a year. Honed my first razors last night (6/8 Colombi Solingen and W&B FBU 7/8), have to say it was a really satisfying feeling to know I put a bevel on one (the W&B, it was in bad shape) and a fine edge on the other (the Colombi actually had a decent, but irritating edge) - if I do say so myself.

Used a Norton 4k/8k with Lynn's circle technique. Have a Ardenne's Belgian Coticule coming for Father's Day. I have no doubt that will be an exciting honing experience as well.

Feel free to chime in with your favorite honing techniques/process. I'm here to soak up all the great knowledge. View attachment 338192

 

[buca3152]

The 4/8 is very good. I believe the whole process lies on the bevel set. A 1k stone or equivalent. I have a Norton 1k and a dmt 1200 for bevel. I started with a 4/8 but the 1k is necessary IMO.

 

[ChopperStyle]

Thanks for the tip buca3152. Lynn Abram's video says you can actually use the 4K side to set a bevel using his circular method, but I'm guessing if I was using a razor with harder steel (my Bartmann or Heljestrand) it would be necessary to use the 1K.

I also have a coticule waiting in my wife's closet for Father's Day

 

[Obiwan]

If you plan on doing any extensive honing, a 1k will be a worthy investment. You'll save quite a bit of time and aggrivation IMO.

 

[ChopperStyle]

If you plan on doing any extensive honing, a 1k will be a worthy investment. You'll save quite a bit of time and aggrivation IMO.

Thanks for the advice! I keep hearing that and I think I will make that my next honing purchase.

 

[Brooksie967]

I wouldn't devote yourself to setting a bevel using a circle method... This WOULD work for an edge that is completely straight and contacts the hone at all times. If you try doing this to anything with a smile or different shape you'll end up causing yourself more work in the long run. Stick to x-strokes, regular strokes, and the rolling X.

The 1k is an absolute necessity (IMHO) and the Chosera 1k is the best feeling/fastest stone for the job, again IMHO.

The norton 4/8 is a great stone after the 1k and to maintain a razor that already has a bevel set on it but 8k for me provides a very underwhelming shaving experience.

Coticules give the feeling of 'I can do no harm with this thing' when shaving and that's a great edge to learn to shave with for sure! I personally think that coticule edges lack the keenness I seek in a shave and am a strong believer that a good JNAT can provide an edge that is as smooth as a coticule and much much keener.

Once you feel that you've maxed out the 4/8 and your coticule, look into buying a 12k synthetic, a thuringian hone, or a jnat and see what you like! A great way to test this out is to send a razor out to someone who you trust and get them to put a certain edge on your razor. Shave with it and see what you think. Do this a few times with a few different finishers and see what you like best THEN buy another finishing stone.

 

[Obiwan]

+1 on trying edges. Many of us are more than willing to help in this regard from my experience.

 

[Tierdaen]

I just got a 1k stone too, but it's a Matsukusuyama from Japanese Natural Stones. Very neat stone and seems very useful. Good complement to a natural.

 

[gsurko]

Get some films.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Lapping film is best best best. Super easy and rock steady consistent results after a very short learning curve. Cheap too. But your 4k/8k is a decent basic rock-rubber setup. Cheap enough and big enough. I agree that something in the neighborhood of a 1k bevel setter would be a wise purchase but it is not absolutely essential if you are only honing a few razors for yourself. Remember you should only have to ever set the bevel once. So wear on the 4k need not be a major concern. Also you can get a 12" x 4" polished marble tile, wet/dry sandpaper of various grits, and 3M or LocTite spray adhesive, from Home Depot. Fold and tear a sheet of sandpaper lengthwise to fit the tile and stick it with the spray adhesive and you have a crude but effective hone for edge repair or bevel setting. As a bonus you can use the same tile with lapping film. The sandpaper hone is okay for only occasionally fixing up an eBay rescue or flea market find.

Your 8k if well lapped is capable of giving pretty decent edges. After honing with water, try 100 or so very very light laps using lather on the stone. You will be amazed at the difference. But a Naniwa 12k superstone is perhaps easier to use.

My battery is fading so I won't start about diamond paste on balsa.

 

[Brooksie967]

Lapping film is best best best. Super easy and rock steady consistent results after a very short learning curve. Cheap too. But your 4k/8k is a decent basic rock-rubber setup. Cheap enough and big enough. I agree that something in the neighborhood of a 1k bevel setter would be a wise purchase but it is not absolutely essential if you are only honing a few razors for yourself. Remember you should only have to ever set the bevel once. So wear on the 4k need not be a major concern. Also you can get a 12" x 4" polished marble tile, wet/dry sandpaper of various grits, and 3M or LocTite spray adhesive, from Home Depot. Fold and tear a sheet of sandpaper lengthwise to fit the tile and stick it with the spray adhesive and you have a crude but effective hone for edge repair or bevel setting. As a bonus you can use the same tile with lapping film. The sandpaper hone is okay for only occasionally fixing up an eBay rescue or flea market find.

Your 8k if well lapped is capable of giving pretty decent edges. After honing with water, try 100 or so very very light laps using lather on the stone. You will be amazed at the difference. But a Naniwa 12k superstone is perhaps easier to use.

My battery is fading so I won't start about diamond paste on balsa.

I'm pretty sure Slash has some kind of connections with the manufacturing/distributing of lapping films; he always rears his ugly head and brings up sand paper for sharpening things Pretty sure he's posted this same comment in 100 other threads

 

[Wid]

Never hurts to tell the truth. Films are a great way to hone, period. I've had more rocks than I can count and while a few of them gave up some really good edges it's hard to beat a film edge imo. Film followed by .25 diamond pasted strop is my go to edge any more.

 

[Slash McCoy]

I'm pretty sure Slash has some kind of connections with the manufacturing/distributing of lapping films; he always rears his ugly head and brings up sand paper for sharpening things Pretty sure he's posted this same comment in 100 other threads

I am deeply offended by your remark, sir. My head is actually quite handsome, in part due to the superior shave to be had from honing on film. I have instructed my company to ensure that no film ever becomes available to you. And BTW I will neither confirm nor deny my ownership of 3M corp.

 

[Doc226]

No denying film is cheap and easy to use, I just don't like the feel of the edge.

Sharp? Heck yes

Smooth? No way

 

[Brooksie967]

I am deeply offended by your remark, sir. My head is actually quite handsome, in part due to the superior shave to be had from honing on film. I have instructed my company to ensure that no film ever becomes available to you. And BTW I will neither confirm nor deny my ownership of 3M corp.

Slash you crack me up man! Love it lol!

 

[ChopperStyle]

Thanks Brooksie! I have a razor restoration friend that lives a few miles from my house, he lent me the norton for practice until I decide to break out the coticule. I may ask if I can borrow one of his infamous jnat's.

I've shaved with a W&B FBU special he honed with a Jnat and wasn't impressed by the edge, however the smaller and hollower 6/8 vintage solingens (Edaco, T. Hessen Bruch) he honed on the Jnat really seemed to take to the stone nicely.

 

[Brooksie967]

For me, when I'm dealing with big smilers, I really concentrate on slowing down and spending the right amount of time on the JNAT. Since you can't go nuts with circles and quick x strokes you really have to get yourself into the mood to hone and concentrate on the rolling x, over and over and over again until that slurry breaks down and changes color!

 

[ChopperStyle]

For me, when I'm dealing with big smilers, I really concentrate on slowing down and spending the right amount of time on the JNAT. Since you can't go nuts with circles and quick x strokes you really have to get yourself into the mood to hone and concentrate on the rolling x, over and over and over again until that slurry breaks down and changes color!

Is there a good video out there that demonstrates the proper way to hone a smiler with the rolling x technique?

 

[ChopperStyle]

So, I have a coticule with a slurry stone. That's a done deal. I happen to like the edge of the coticule finished razors I've used in the past. Is there another bevel setting stone or film you would add -- for razors that need a new bevel set before heading to the coticule?

Also, are there any stones out there good for sharpening both knives and razors?

 

[ACorazza]

So, I have a coticule with a slurry stone. That's a done deal. I happen to like the edge of the coticule finished razors I've used in the past. Is there another bevel setting stone or film you would add -- for razors that need a new bevel set before heading to the coticule?

Also, are there any stones out there good for sharpening both knives and razors?

As far as a bevel setting stone there are many choices. Two popular ones are the chosera 1000 or a DMT 1200. My current setup now includes coticules and a dmt duosharp 1200/325. The DMT also works very well on knives and if you want to take your knife edge even further you can even do it on your coticule provided it is not too small. A few days ago I honed my Zwilling 7" Santoku on my DMT and coticule for the first time. Also the DMT can be used to lap stones which you may need to do more often if you honing knives because they tend to dish out quicker than with razors.