After comparing my work with the Norton 4000/8000 on my eBay bargain Kinsfolk Wedge, with three othes which I had just had sharpened professionally, I was fairly proud of myself that I taken it from dull to something that I could actually shave myself with. But now I'm trying to sharpen my never-been-to-the-hone Dovo, which is stainless steel and a full hollow. After what seems like twice the amount of work, it still isn't sharp! Should I expect a lot more to get a stainless blade sharpened, and if so how much more? Should I use the same hones, or does stainless require coarser/finer?
Stainless steel honing - how different should I expect this to be?
- Thread starter Badger_Killer
- Start date
You might need to go down to a 1k stone to set the bevel.
It shouldn't be THAT much harder. However after watching the Dovo factory set bevels on a spinning concave abrasive wheel on "How It's Made" I would suspect that you have not yet honed away the factory bevel. As was mentioned a good idea would be to reset the bevel, and for that a lower grit would be faster. YMMV of course.
I personally find that honing INOX (stainless steel) is not much harder than honing "regular" carbon steel. I recently got a Schulze INOX blade....setting the bevel kinda took awhile, but after that it wasn't too too bad...maybe a few extra sets of x strokes here & there for good measure...
I would say to invest more time in setting the bevel...Once you get that squared away you should be OK I hope!!
I would say to invest more time in setting the bevel...Once you get that squared away you should be OK I hope!!
Stainless isn't harder, it is more ductile. The honing process remains the same. Set the bevel then refine the edge to the desired keenness.
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
Setting the bevel on a new Dovo on a 4k is going to be slow and frustrating, even if it is not stainless. I would start the process on a 600 grit diamond plate. Then finalize the bevel on a 1k or on 12u lapping film.
Stainless honing is an overblown fairy tale.
Dovo factory edges can often be crappier than a Good Dollar. Be sure to set the bevel (DMT1200 works pretty well), and then go to the 4K/8K, etc.
Dovo factory edges can often be crappier than a Good Dollar. Be sure to set the bevel (DMT1200 works pretty well), and then go to the 4K/8K, etc.
hardly noticable.
My Dovo stainless was dull too when I got it new.
I did not try to put it on the Norton as the thing was quite expensive and I did not trust my skill.
What I tried was Chromium oxide on a suede strop. 50 laps on each side and the thing delivered great shaves.
I did not try to put it on the Norton as the thing was quite expensive and I did not trust my skill.
What I tried was Chromium oxide on a suede strop. 50 laps on each side and the thing delivered great shaves.
