Need some help

[sapito318]

So I was giving honing a go last night, but only succeeded in making my blade more dull than when I started out. I am thinking that I may have reset the bevel, as I have never honed this razor before, B&B LeGrelot BTW, and that it may just need some more honing on a lower grit till the bevel is set, although I am not quite sure to tell exactly when that is, other than it being able to cut hairs fairly well.

Anyways, here is my setup:
DMT D8C Diamond Plate
Norton 4/8K
Nakayama Kita Stone

Last night, I did about 15 laps on the 4K, 25 on the 8K and 55 on the nakayama, then followed with 75 passes on the strop.
Results were a pretty dull razor that would not even cut a dangling hair, and took a lot of effort to cut anything like a hair.

I am still under the belief that I need to reset the bevel, possibly on the DMT plate?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Olivia]

I'd rather be more patient with the 4k although it will really be going slow.

 

[gugi]

well, that's one of the most important ingredients to honing - knowing when to stop. so you have to be able to evaluate the current state of the edge, how sharp it is and which hone to use and for how long will depend on this.

my understanding is that the b&b le grelot is pretty bad choice to learn honing on because it's fairly hard steel. i would send it out for honing, or first get the hang of it on easier razors. and there's almost nothing easier than a dubl duck - find an inexpensive one and hone it, paying close attention how sharp the edge is at every stage.

also your d8c plate shouldn't be touching a razor unless you see big chips on the edge.

 

[leighton]

The D8C is NOT a bevel setter. It is a restoration stone/lapping stone. Its not for honing purposes as we classify honing to mean.

Bevel setting requires a 1k stone. I really can't tell what is wrong with your blade. If you like, I'm offering limited honing services to newer members for free for the summer (my form of "community service).

 

[sapito318]

Well, I at least know that the D8C is much too coarse unless restoration is required.

The lowest stone I have is a 4K right now, so I'll prolly just have to stick with that and take a little more time.

As for the Le Grelot being a hard hone, I surmised this based on my experience I am gonna just try my luck with my Schmid or maybe the Freider as they both seem to have a much more manageable steel.

 

[professorchaos]

Lap the 4K flat and do laps until the edge passes the thumbnail test. It's been a loooooooong time since I used a Norton so I cannot say how many. Could be 20 laps, could be 80. The TNT is the critical test...if the edge doesn't pass the it, no later hone will get the razor shave ready. Only then do you want to move onto the 8K hone. Now the goal is to remove most of the scratch marks from the 4K. There are several ways to determine when this is done, and the TNT is not one of them. My two favorites are by feel. Once the hone feels smooth via feedback, assess the edge with the TPT. Repeat with subsequent hones. You may have to go through this several times before getting a serviceable edge. Frustrating? You bet. But not impossible.