Thread: Can't get past 1k

Hi Guys,
Need some help here. I'm a new user to hones and am having some major trouble. I tried honing a Henckels Friodur 7/8 and after much time and effort I managed to get it shave ready (very nice shaver). I've tried doing the same thing with a Boker Edelweiss, and a Er Plumacher Lersch, but with no luck. I set the bevel on my Norton 1k (popping arm hairs), then go through the motions with my Norton 4k and 8k. After I finish on my 8k it won't even catch my arm hairs. I went back and re-set the bevel and tried with just the 4k and same thing, it seems like it's getting dull instead of sharp. Any ideas what I'm doing wrong? It took me several tries with the Friodur before it took, and then it was only popping hairs really well after I stropped it.
Thanks

How much pressure are you using? My first instinct says that after you set the bevel, and you're still using pressure....you may be causing the blade to torque, thereby sharpening the sides of the bevel as opposed to the cutting edge.

??

Hmmm..the Norton 4k and 8k likes the pyramid method.
Give the wiki a look for info on it.

It is not silly to do a 1k/4k pyramid then
follow it by a 4k/8k pyramid.

The magic marker test is always helpful.
It can tell a lot about when inspected with
a modest hand lens.

Something you might try -- related to pressure as Maxi said -- if your blades are genuinely and easily shaving arm hair, it's time to shift gears a bit. Re-visit your 1k another 30-40 laps, no slurry, decreasing pressure as you go. This is the beginning of the polishing process, and at the end of this cycle you should still be cutting arm hairs easily. Heading for the 4k, you should be using very little pressure. The Norton 4k is to me still a surprisingly aggressive stone, use lots of water and keep that pressure light. You're refining and polishing at this point. Same deal on the 8k.

Above all, you need to develop a feel for what stroke and what pressure keeps that edge smoothly on the stone. Even on the most beautiful and straight-looking blades sometimes require a rolling-x, you have to able to feel the difference.

oberstmoose,

Please have a peek at these most excellent video tutorials by GSSixgun :

gssixgun - YouTube

I learned a great deal by watching his technique

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I've nothing to add, of course, being new to all this. Just wanted to say I'm finding it very informative...

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

The magic marker test is always helpful. It can tell a lot about when inspected with a modest hand lens.

Sounds like a pressure issue. I keep a sharpie at my honing table as well as a little handheld plastic magnifying thingy/microscope that Sicboater sent to me. The marker is more for the naked eye, but magnification will really show you what is going on. I use one before, during, and after on bevel set and right before I take a razor to a finisher.

Could be too much pressure or could be the blade lost its temper and now it is too soft to hold that edge.

If you can't get it, feel free to send it to me. I'll see if it's the razor or the honer, just cover the return shipping. PM if interested.
Scott

I think everyone has you covered, and it is probably not really pertinent here, but have you made sure the 4 and 8k stones are lapped?

James.