Ready to tackle this honing thing

[conroygc]

I have a confession to make.
I suck at honing.

Sure, I've successfully touched up a couple dozen razors by now. But every. single. time. I try to set an edge, and bring it up to shaveable, I fail.
So I'm hoping you gentleman will help me out.

Here's what we're working with:
A DMT Coarse (not sure if its the 220 or 325 grit)
3 Boker Hones (like this)
-600, 1000, and 1500 grit
3 Naniwa Hones
-5000, 8000, and 12000 grit

What I have tried in the past is setting the bevel on the DMT until is passes the fingernail test, then running it out through the rest of the hones, and stropping. I've probably tried at least 20 times and I've never been able to get a razor up to snuff.

I'm going to try again tomorrow (I hope), with your guys help. I have another Dovo razor that is sharp, but not sharp enough. However, its not my edge. Do I need to reset the edge and start from the beginning? Or try to polish up what's already there?

 

[Wid]

Skip the DMT and start with the 1K stone and stay on it till you can shave arm hair at skin level. It would be very helpful to have a way to magnify the edge to see when the prior scratch pattern is removed. Once you can shave arm hair take it to the 5K stone til the 1K scratch pattern is gone. Do so again with the 8K stone and again with the 12K. Strop then test shave.

 

[cpcohen1945]

. . . It would be very helpful to have a way to magnify the edge to see when the prior scratch pattern is removed. Once you can shave arm hair take it to the 5K stone til the 1K scratch pattern is gone. Do so again with the 8K stone and again with the 12K. Strop then test shave.

+1.

I find a 10x loupe essential in seeing where the bevel is good, and where it isn't good.

If the Dovo is _almost_ right, I don't see any reason to let it see a low-grit stone (or DMT).

. Charles

 

[global_dev]

I got lots of info out of the markered edge trick. its not gonna show you if you have set V, but at least you'll know you are "close" or not.

 

[johnmrson]

If you don't know the history of the razor, then go back to the begining and set the bevel. Start with the 1k hone. Do around 70-80 x stroke laps. You should be able to easily shave arm hair. If you can't, keep going on the 1k until you can. It's quite a big jump then to 5k so you'll need to do a lot of x stroke laps. I'd probably do 200 and see how that goes. Then do 80 on both the 8k and the 12k. Make sure you then strop the razor well. That should give you a shave ready straight.

 

[jpcwon]

You also may want to try doing the Circle method when setting the bevel. I find that it works really well! Basically you do a circle-motion up & down the hone, about 40-50x in both directions. You'll want to do them clockwise going up the hone & counter-clockwise coming back down. I usually do 1 set of 40 circles with firm pressure, followed by 15 X-Strokes. I then do 1 set of 40 circles with moderate pressure followed by 15 X-Strokes. It seems to work quickly & is really effective for bevel-setting.

 

[Mr_Spiffy]

You also may want to try doing the Circle method when setting the bevel. I find that it works really well! Basically you do a circle-motion up & down the hone, about 40-50x in both directions. You'll want to do them clockwise going up the hone & counter-clockwise coming back down. I usually do 1 set of 40 circles with firm pressure, followed by 15 X-Strokes. I then do 1 set of 40 circles with moderate pressure followed by 15 X-Strokes. It seems to work quickly & is really effective for bevel-setting.

This may actually help me out with a razor I'm trying to hone, as well. I'm with the OP. I suck at honing, so far. But having only attempted a few razors, I need a lot more practice to get good at it.

 

[jpcwon]

This may actually help me out with a razor I'm trying to hone, as well. I'm with the OP. I suck at honing, so far. But having only attempted a few razors, I need a lot more practice to get good at it.

It really does take practice. I was one of those guys who watched Youtube video after video at first, and said "Hey! That doesn't look so hard"...Well when I got my first hone (A Norton 4/8k) I was humbled very quickly! I dulled many a razor attempting to learn how to hone. Eventually though, things start to fall into place. It really is a "black art" that cannot be learned overnight...

Now I'm being humbled all over again as I struggle to get good edges off of my new Coticule(s)....(yes, I am stricken with HAD...)

 

[BakerAndBadger]

You also may want to try doing the Circle method when setting the bevel. I find that it works really well! Basically you do a circle-motion up & down the hone, about 40-50x in both directions. You'll want to do them clockwise going up the hone & counter-clockwise coming back down. I usually do 1 set of 40 circles with firm pressure, followed by 15 X-Strokes. I then do 1 set of 40 circles with moderate pressure followed by 15 X-Strokes. It seems to work quickly & is really effective for bevel-setting.

Why the clockwise and anticlockwise strokes? I just go for it with the circles and it seems to work fine. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[Wid]

Actually alternating clockwise and counter clockwise is a natural thing, you probably do it without thinking.

 

[jpcwon]

Why the clockwise and anticlockwise strokes? I just go for it with the circles and it seems to work fine. Maybe I'm missing something.

(at least this is how I always thought of it)....

You usually want to be honing with the edge leading, right? So when you're going up the hone (edge away from you), clockwise circles will keep the edge out in front. Coming back down the hone, you want the same thing but the edge is facing you, so a counterclockwise motion will keep the edge out front.

If you do it the opposite way, then you're actually doing more of a "stropping" motion (spine leading)...

Again this is just what makes sense in my head...I could be wrong too!!

 

[conroygc]

What is the markered edge trick?
Also... Tape the spine, or no tape?
I do have a jewelers loupe that I've neglected in the past. I'll give it a shot tonight.

 

[Wid]

Mark the edge with a sharpie and watch the edge to remove the marker. It gives you and idea as to where the edge is making contact with the stone. I tape my razors.

 

[gzp]

I think you should consider the possibility that you're moving on too soon, there may be something not right with the fingernail test. Good luck!

 

[conroygc]

I think you should consider the possibility that you're moving on too soon, there may be something not right with the fingernail test. Good luck!

I think this is what my problem was initially. I didn't have the bevel set properly before moving on to the next hone.

Well I just finished honing and testing the razor. It turned out alright! Much better results compared to the past. I just finished shaving with the razor, and it's good, but not perfect.
I used the 1,000 grit hone until I could shave arm hair, and then moved up through the 1.5k, 5k, 8k, and 12k and then stropped. Took much longer than I expected, probably spent at least 45 minutes.

The razor delivered a good shave, but it could be better. Is getting a better edge just a matter or practice, or should I change something? Do you guys think I should try CrOx on my linen strop before the final stropping?

Thanks again for your advice, everyone. It worked!

 

[Wid]

Nothing beats practice. When first I started I'd dull a razor time and time again just to have something to hone.

 

[conroygc]

Nothing beats practice. When first I started I'd dull a razor time and time again just to have something to hone.

What's your method to dull a razor? I was wondering if I should dull a razor before I try to put a new edge on it, or just start with the old edge.

 

[conroygc]

After reading a few threads about lapping film, I'm tempted to give them a shot. I don't think the Nawiwa hones or the lapping film will be better than one or the other, but I'm curious to experiment. I'm also interested in getting some strop paste to add to my finishing technique. I'm really after that perfect edge...

Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase lapping film and strop paste? What kind of strop paste should I buy? Is green (CrO) the finest, grit-wise?

 

[Doc226]

http://www.tedpella.com/material_html/lapping.htm#_816_322

I don't know of anyone that sells it by the sheet.

 

[Wid]

Got mine here

http://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=1350