What did you hone today?

[1Speedster]

How coincidental, honing time up here the PNW as well. Of course, this time around I had to change things up. Instead of using the Nakayama, I brought out the ozuku kan mokume and played around with a couple of tomo nagura I picked up from a really helpful honing/shaving resource on this board. Thanks again, my good sir!

Well, when you get little sleep screw-ups are bound to happen. I get finished with an edge off the one tomo and while inspecting the edge with the Belomo 10x loupe, it sort of swings/rocks forward in my light grip and “ting” hits the edge. I re-inspect the edge and somehow miss the micro defect I introduced. So I shave it. Stellar edge except I pull some weepers on AGT near the left side of my mustache area. Looking at the edge one more time under magnification, I finally see the tiniest of defects about one inch from the toe – it barely creates the tiniest glint on the edge if viewed from the back side. Oh well, another honing opportunity…yay!

Basically, I hit the 1.5k and 5k Kuramaku stones again and tried out the ozuku with another tomo. This shave test will have to await some beard growth. I’ll report back in 2 days (sorry, I cannot bring myself to shave daily…but at least I’m not waiting 1 week anymore).

Here are some pics taken during the honing sessions:

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I've had this razor for about a year and the original edge was great. It finally started to lose that "fresh" feeling so I worked it up on the mizu asagi and finished on the ark, probably overkill but I think it's going to be smooth.

 

[H Brad Boonshaft]

“I get finished with an edge off the one tomo and while inspecting the edge with the Belomo 10x loupe, it sort of swings/rocks forward in my light grip and “ting” hits the edge.”

Yup. If you hear that “tink”, the edge bit into the plastic and damaged, (cracked or tore) the edge. Remember that the actual cutting edge cannot be seen without SEM magnification.

But not a big deal, likely something that a finisher could easily repair.

If you lightly joint and look straight down on the edge, the edge will now be shiny, and the defect/micro crack will be a dark spot. Reset the edge on the finish stone until the dark spot disappears.

You can run the side of a sharpie on the edge and feel where the crack is, (ink will also build up at the crack) then mark the belly with the sharpie so you can locate the damage spot and ensure it has been completely honed out.

I always joint and refinish the edge after touching the loupe or scope to the edge. Once the bevels are flat and have been finished, it only takes a few laps to bring the bevels back to meeting 3-10 laps, after jointing.

Separate Japanese sauce dishes for each nagura, prevent/limit grit contamination, cheap insurance.

Nice stone.

 

[1Speedster]

Yes, I failed to mention I easily noticed the glint when I went back post-shave and viewed the edge. It was the slightest bit of damage about 1 inch from the toe. That defect bit me in a few places (minor weepers), so I immediately took it back to the stones after shaving. I went down to the Kuramaku 5k and spent some time there until that glint disappeared.

Thanks for the advice on using separate dishes to prevent grit contamination between the nagura I’m using.

The stone was another fortunate early morning purchase from the same source as my Nakayama. Like I said there in slightly different way, the early bird gets the worm! That stone not only has the looks, it’s got the goods too. Puts a fantastic edge on a razor.

 

[Seelector]

I didn’t think much of my last shave off each of these two razors so I gave them the full treatment. I was originally only going to go back to 8k but after a few laps I decided to all the way back to 1k.

Similar progression for each: Shapton Glass 1k, 3k, 8k then JNat for the Boker; same groundwork for the Helje but went from 8k to 12k then finished on the Escher. Nice HHT on both after linen + leather stropping.

 

[rhgg2]

I'd had enough of problem child bevel sets so thought I'd tackle something more straightforward. This Fili 13 proved just the ticket. Synth 1.5 through 5k, botan through koma on the jnat, accidentally drop the honing stand on the blade, synth 1.5 through 5k, botan through koma on the jnat to a tomo finish. Came out nice in the end!

 

[1Speedster]

<snip> accidentally drop the honing stand on the blade <snip>

I feel so much better about confessing my fin damage with that Belomo loupe “crash” now that someone else has had a similar honing foul. Anyway, it’s just good to know I’m not standing alone here.

 

[Saloogie]

This morning I took another Griffin Barn Find Bangal razor, and after giving it a good polishing with wet/dry sandpaper and some polish, I went from bevel set to finish edge.

It was my usual King 1k, 6k, 8k progression and then onto my two Rosetta stones for the finish and I have to say this was one of my best edges yet! It took my 3 day stubble right down with no stuttering or pulling. A 3 pass shave left me with a beautiful BBS finish. For whatever reason, I think this is my best edge yet, so I am thrilled!

Along with my surgical Ark, the Rosetta stones are becoming my go-to stones. The Rosetta Matrix, the black and red one, is the highest grade and is right up there with the Ark.

 

[1Speedster]

With confidence high this morning, I decided to take one of my earliest RAD acquisitions and put a Jnat edge on the blade. Evidently, my rolling X-stroke needs work as the razor wound up smooth shaving but quite dull; I threw in the towel literally after the first pass (WTG). It just wasn’t cutting like it should. Looks like I’ll save this American kamisori for later, long after practicing on another smiling razor of mine. This is a fun razor to shave with when the edge is all the way there.

 

[TSENG]

This time honing uses Taiwan Stone(3)(Finishing Stone)+Mejiro Nagura .
BENGALL Razor +6/8”（20mm)
T.R. Cadman & Sons,
Half Hollow.

 

[JTS8893]

I recently acquired a Filarmonica 13 that had a few small chips in the blade, but I only paid $45. I figured why not compared to the crazy prices I found everywhere else.

I taped the spine with one layer of electrical tape and worked the chips out on my 1k king stone. Set the bevel and progressed to my 8k, finished on 12k shapton.

First time doing this on a razor and I was pretty proud of myself. Most comfortable shave I have had yet since switching to straight razors, which was only 3 months ago.

 

[alex1921]

Full dilucot. Started with a lot of slurry and kept dunking the razor in a water cup as I progressed. Down to water or whatever was left. Pretty good shave.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Full dilucot. Started with a lot of slurry and kept dunking the razor in a water cup as I progressed. Down to water or whatever was left. Pretty good shave.

View attachment 2005313

Man alive, by the time I got to the far end of that thing I'd have to ask for directions to find my way back.

 

[Mr Bedlington]

It only happens once every year. The time has come. I'm starting with a few of my older razors, old Sheffields and heavier grinds, including the RigaRazor. I sorted out these today; they are good for another year of use. In the next few days, I can start on my Japanese razors—nothing to report back. No issues, my old Sheffield razors are pretty straightforward if you know your way around smiling blades and heavier grinds.

 

[Wid]

Jointed the edge on this Five Star razor and brought it back on a Snow White. Went with Mejiro>Komo>Nakayama tomo

HHT was pretty nice off the stone. Improved with linen. Shave test in a bit