YEAH, I did it!

[SavantStrike]

I finished my first honing job today when I stropped my razor on a home made chromium oxide paddle made out of a sheet of oak veneered plywood. I just got through shaving with it a few minutes ago, and I'm happy!

I took it through
1200 grit
4000 grit
8000 grit
12000 grit

Then hit it with chromium oxide and stropped it. I'm out of thumb space for the TPT, but it worked . there is a huge difference between 8k, 12k, and the chromium oxide.

 

[tpoof]

and once you have done it once....

 

[SavantStrike]

and once you have done it once....

You end up doing it hundreds of times afterwards.

I planned on making this a new hobby before I ever had my first blade . I guess it's a good thing I got it down (at least a little). I got where I am now thanks to the help of all the people here, and elsewhere .

 

[Sullybob]

Great job Chris. I bet you feel a sense of accomplishment, deservedly so.

 

[jamesbeat]

Well done
There must be a real sense of accomplishment when it 'clicks' for the first time, and what a sense of achievement to have done it all yourself

 

[SavantStrike]

I do feel accomplishment, but it's only because of all the advice you guys gave me beforehand. I did a lot of research before picking up the hones and going at it, and even then I stopped to go back to videos one or two times to make sure I was doing things right.

The real deal now is the razor I honed is a half to 3/4 hollow. I'm not sure what to think of it yet. Goodness gracious it's loud to shave with . Wickedly (or at least plenty) sharp though, and I didn't feel it sticking to my face like my Wapi does sometimes (that suction thing with heavier grinds?). It really inspired a false sense of confidence as for whatever reason it felt like I could push the envelope more with it than I was used to with my Wapi. For example when moving from my neck to my cheeks, or vice versa, blade angle didn't seem as critical. I need to shave with it a few more times to see what I think of it and if it needs more I suppose, but initial reactions are good IMO. I also think it has a mild case of cell rot. I need to get some new scales on it stat.

 

[gregs656]

Cool, it's the final step really.

I indulged today and bought my first hone, hopefully I'll get it before the week is out and I can hone up the razor I bought last week, but we shall see. It's a slippery slope!

 

[SavantStrike]

Cool, it's the final step really.

I indulged today and bought my first hone, hopefully I'll get it before the week is out and I can hone up the razor I bought last week, but we shall see. It's a slippery slope!

Welcome to the end my friend! We'll be going off the cliff at right about the same time .

 

[gregs656]

You're telling me!

I've spent about £160 ($240) in two months on this hobby! and it IS a hobby!

Still, I would never go back.

 

[SavantStrike]

You're telling me!

I've spent about £160 ($240) in two months on this hobby! and it IS a hobby!

Still, I would never go back.

Yeah me neither. It's incredibly satisfying to put naked steel on the face and start cutting. I only wish there was an even more old school way to shave, but using broken shells doesn't sound comfortable.

 

[tg16]

It feels great when you hone your first razor to shave ready. Congratulations!