I like the water for lubricity as well as helping to see where the edge is making contact by watching the bow wave.
I'm about ready to jump on board with this lapping gig (didn't love the experience I've had so far with my little coti bout - the only hone I have so far)...
Couple questions:
For standard maintenance (i.e. NOT restoring 'bay blades), do I really need a DMT 1200 , DMT 600/1200, etc as a bevel setting plate? (would not some 12 or 15um film accomplish the same?)
And, about taping spines - do you all do this? Yes/no?
Thanks, Gents!
The problem I see with going too wide is you have a lot of wasted film there. Just go as wide as you need to, as wide as the blade is. Anything else is just wasted. It won't get touched by the razor. If you scoot it over to where you have the tang or the scales on there it's too good a chance your blade will no longer have contact.
Might this be a good way to try out lapping films, without having to buy packs of 10? Sheets are $1.05 ea. Shipping is $5.
http://www.sfjssantafe.com/items.php?Gid=353
Or are these sheets different than what is being called "lapping film" in this thread?
After a go-round on one of my favorite shavers (Hamburg concave full hollow) Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, I begrudgingly admit, I shaved like garbage. Very sharp, but very harsh. I had finished it on the .3 film with paper underneath.
So I switched it up and went with a different razor (another full hollow Solingen, don't remember the maker) and finished on the 1um film with paper underneath. MUCH better edge and much smoother. My face is a lot happier today. It would seem that the trial and error is the only real way to determine what works for you. For example, I had a very competent member here hone one of my razors on a Coti...with no offense to the honer, I hated it. Very "sticky" feeling to me.
The 1um finish and 1um/.3um laps on the balsa...SAWEET!
I strongly dislike the 0.3um edges. They are too fragile and fall apart, which is what leads to the harshness.
1um, for me is definitely the "sweet spot". Either 1um film or 1um paste on a hanging strop is the nexus of sharp and comfy for me.
I'm inclined to agree. I'm still chasing HHT5, not so much because I feel like I need it to pass for a great shave as I know that's not the case. More so just because I want to see it with my own eyes.
the other day i got a HHT7.... *(there was a small flash of light and a tiny scream as the hair separated ~1/8" away from the cutting edge)....
couldn't shave with that edge tho.... kept nicking me when i tried to place it on my face....
A question for all: how to keep the paper from coming apart under the lapping film during the final honing stages. I'm talking about the copy paper.
As stated before, I checked my ego at the door when I came in.
Thanks for your help.
A question for all: how to keep the paper from coming apart under the lapping film during the final honing stages. I'm talking about the copy paper.
As stated before, I checked my ego at the door when I came in.
Thanks for your help.
Probably have too much water on my lapping plate, I'll try just enough to keep it from sliding and take another whack at it. Thanks.
Would anyone be interested in doing a "honing trade"? Now that I have the complete set of films for the full progression (I had previously only been using as a finisher), I'd like to get someone elses take on my edge. I have an unknown maker Sheffield half to 1/4 hollow razor that would be a good candidate. What I'd like to do is this:
We send eachother a blade that needs to go from bevel to finish and hone them up, send them on back, and post our review/opinions here after the shave. Anyone interested?
Might this be a good way to try out lapping films, without having to buy packs of 10? Sheets are $1.05 ea. Shipping is $5.
http://www.sfjssantafe.com/items.php?Gid=353
Or are these sheets different than what is being called "lapping film" in this thread?