Guys i was having doubts about using my Straight. Then Slash McCoy advised me to use diamond paste and balsa board strops. Well tonight after using the 1um then .25 um diamond pastes on two 3" balsa wood boards, i think i've finally cracked this Honing Thing. I googled diamond paste and found a dealer in Sydney so i called him and discussed the issue and he was very helpful. His name is Victor Hogan from Kemet.com.au email [email protected] Ph 0298314922. So i ordered a 5 gram tube of 1-KD-C1 which is a 1um diamond paste for A$23.00 and a 1/4-KD-C2 which is a .25um paste for A$40.00 and paid A$14.00 postage and it was in Perth the following afternoon.
I made up two MDF bat shaped boards out of 17" by 3" by 16mm thick with an additional handle of 5" with a large hole for storing on a nail. Sorry Slash i didn't follow your lead and go with the glass tile thing but this worked for me.
Anyway so i use the 1000 grit stone to set the bevel then i also used my 3000, 4000 and 8000 grit stones before finally using the diamond strops. It didn't take too long as the 1um paste (the blue paste)really did the trick getting the edge shining; then the .25 um paste (the white one) got the edge up to speed for the standing hair test. Well i've never had my straight so sharp. So after cutting down a forest of hair on my upper leg i couldn't wait to have a shave with it, after i touched it up on the .25 um board i mean.
Whilst it wasn't a perfect shave due to my technique; it was by far my best ever shave with my Bengall Straight.
So i have finally come from the dark side and despite a few weepers i am finally ready to join the ranks of those of you who enjoy shaving with a razor you have sharpened yourself. Yihaa (success at last). Now i can't wait to sharpen my home made Kamisoris i made using tool steel on a 200mm grinder. I'll let you know how i get on, cheers......
I made up two MDF bat shaped boards out of 17" by 3" by 16mm thick with an additional handle of 5" with a large hole for storing on a nail. Sorry Slash i didn't follow your lead and go with the glass tile thing but this worked for me.
Anyway so i use the 1000 grit stone to set the bevel then i also used my 3000, 4000 and 8000 grit stones before finally using the diamond strops. It didn't take too long as the 1um paste (the blue paste)really did the trick getting the edge shining; then the .25 um paste (the white one) got the edge up to speed for the standing hair test. Well i've never had my straight so sharp. So after cutting down a forest of hair on my upper leg i couldn't wait to have a shave with it, after i touched it up on the .25 um board i mean.
Whilst it wasn't a perfect shave due to my technique; it was by far my best ever shave with my Bengall Straight.
So i have finally come from the dark side and despite a few weepers i am finally ready to join the ranks of those of you who enjoy shaving with a razor you have sharpened yourself. Yihaa (success at last). Now i can't wait to sharpen my home made Kamisoris i made using tool steel on a 200mm grinder. I'll let you know how i get on, cheers......