I got a Dovo Bismarck from vintage blades that arrived today and it said on the invoice that you did the honing, it was the best shave I have ever gotten from any of my blades, thank you, and thank you for your videos.
Hi, I usually recommend that someone send out their first razor as it takes a little practice to become successful or start having successful results when you are learning to hone. It's like learning to use the straight razor which takes most people a few weeks to start getting the hang of it. It was an amazing holiday season for razors and we are all waiting on the manufacturers to re-stock. All the best.
I've been practicing. 5 nights a week for 3 weeks and more dull every try. I was about to throw in the towel until I came across this tutorial. Bless you, Mr. Abrams. You've saved my sanity.
just got my norton 4k/8k today. the circle method certainly put one heck of an edge on my razors. had to stop myself from shaving my arms clean. cant thank you enough for this and all your other videos lynn
Just wanted to drop you a note to say Thank you for this video! I bought a Dovo Best Quality from you and you were kind enough to hone it for me. Well,long story short, the razor got dull and I didn't want to mess it up, I let a gentleman who said he was a hone meister work with it. He messed it up. I watched this video and decided to try fixing the Dovo with you method. It worked great, and I'm a total newbie on honing!! Thank you!!
Very thorough and easy-to-follow process! Thank you for sharing your expertise and experience. With my having just acquired the Norton 4k/8k, your explanation and demonstration of 'how to' properly hone on this stone is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your expertise Mr. Abrams! I just got my first straight edged razor ever... I'm a little apprehensive about shaving with a straight edge, but I like the fact that I won't have to pay Gillette anymore! They've made enough money from me over two decades or more! Now after my initial start-up cost a Naked Armor by Solomon; my razor has a 64 HRC hardness scale for edge retention! I will start saving money from here on out! My Sharpton stones were purchased with funds from my carpentry/painting company.. So I already have had the stones for some time! Now I put them to better usage! Thanks again for a great video Mr. Abrams!
Mr. Abrams, thank you so much for the videos. Could not figure out what I'd been doing wrong with stropping and honing. I am now almost afraid to shave with the sharpness of the edge I was able to put on my razor tonight. Barely ran my blade along my arm and hair flew off! I was ready to shelf my straight razor but not now.
Watching this to see where I'm going wrong and in the first minute or so I've already learned a couple of things I have done wrong, you sir are a legend!
hzh hzh it's best to keep it sharp on a leather strop but when it stops cutting well and starts to snag or pull the hair, that's when you want to hone again, so it will need doing again, sometimes once every few months and sometimes once a week, it depends on many things.
That Guy Max! Would you know where I could get a cheap stone of similar grit? I only have a $80 budget to work with. My razor is screaming at me after 8-12 months of abuse...
I put a dent in my blade from the tap, I took the dent out and brought the blade back just with this stone and method. It's now sharper then when I bought it. This was the first time I have tried honing and I haven't been using a straight razor for long. Thanks yo your video I am now able to use and maintain my blade without any other help
I find that by keeping even pressure on both the spine and edge, the stone does it's work on the edge and I can feel the feedback from the stone when working on it. I don't intentionally put any additional torque on the edge.
There is a lot of personal preference when it comes to honing equipment and processes. I like following the circles with X strokes because I feel it helps refine the edge after the circles and this process has proven to be very consistent and repeatable in producing nice shaving edges. I also feel that the angled striations cut a little better for me.
I usually don't recommend placing the fingers of the other hand on the blade as this can cause uneven pressure when you are performing either circles or X strokes and that pressure may vary on both sides of the razor. That said, some people have become successful in using this approach. What works best for you is normally the most positive and successful thing to do.
Thanks for the good counsel brother. I think I figured out why my razor shaved like broken glass last time I tried to hone! I'm gonna try this method and see if I have better luck now that I also lapped my Norton 4k/8k stone as well.
Some folks do use tape on the spine when they hone. It does create a micro bevel in the edge. Normally, I only will tape to protect the spine from wear on a damascus or fancy pattern type razor or when I am repairing an edge and removing a lot of metal.
I love ya man! I just set my first bevel and honed all the way to the 12k Naniwa. Woohoo! Im sending ya a man hug brother! Thank you for what you do! Thanking the family or to eat tonight. Lol! Thanks again! Greg B.
Not yet. I normally use a DMT 325 or Shapton Glass Lapping Plate on the new Norton's. It is almost like an eighth of an inch that needs to be removed from the 4K side to get the grainy feeling to go away. Not so much on the 8K side. I have used wet-dry sandpaper up to 600 grit without any problems though. You definitely have to rinse more it seems to me, when using the sand paper.
I normally recommend new people just try to use either chromium oxide or .5 micron diamond paste or spray to refresh their razors prior to picking up any stones. When that quits working, then pick up a 12K or finishing stone. If you are going to be buying ebay razors and doing more honing then pick up a full set and start practicing.
Results will vary by skill level, type of razor and your personal sensitivity to shaving. I would recommend that you practice some with just going up to the 8K to develop your sense of your results, test shaving and then deciding from there what is the next best step for you.
Hey Lynn, well thanks for the reply and I will find a honer. I will keep an eye on the forums and keep reading on the maintenance and patterns for honing. Again thanks and best regards from Los Angeles. Cheers!
Hi Brian, The Norton 4K/8K should work fine on a new razor. You may want to incorporate a finishing stone along with chromium oxide or .5 diamond as well.
Honing, like straight razor shaving itself takes practice. Most people are not successful the first few tries. Pressure is very important especially when on the final part of the process. Having the bevel set properly is also key. At this point, you may want to try a short pyramid like a 1-3 and 1-5 on the 4K/8K and see if that helps wake up the edge. If not, I would give the process another go.
Some people use the Nagura that comes with the 1K for both or either cleaning and making slurry. I find that I do not need slurry on the 1K Chosera. It is pretty quick on it's own for bevel setting. I normally just use a DMT 325 or GDLP for cleaning and lapping it. Have fun.
Hi Daniel, We have them on order and hopefully soon. Be on the look out for some new Aust razors to hit soon, but be quick as they will be gone quickly. Great razors!!
The X pattern for me is a personal preference. Some people to a large X pattern while others do a very small X pattern keeping the blade on the stone for the most part. In my opinion, if you are just going up and down and it is producing good edges for you, that is all you need.
Wow...I think I screwed my straight razor up. I was trying last night to sharpen it on the same stone you have,(new right out of the box) was going back and forth, and could not get the blade to take the hair off my arm? I think it might have been the X pattern that I wasn't doing. I was trying every method to no avail.
Lynn Abrams I tried this method the other day Lynn. I repeated the 40 circles method x2 with a fair bit of pressure, then did the 40 circles x1 with weight of the blade pressure. Didn't even come close to getting it proper as I think I rounded the edge off. I felt like I was going to shave my skin right off when I went to test shave with it. Should I go back and re-hone using the same technique? Thanks!
Honing like straight razor shaving takes some practice to become proficient. Most do not achieve success first time out, but I encourage people to learn and practice so that you can become successful in maintaining your own razors.
Hey there, I read a few comments here, but not all hope this is not a repet, the vid is great thank you for posting, I am a knife sharpener by trade and thought about straight razors, and it looks like you have it down right, good job. So now you know I will be asking questions when i start myself lol. Keep up with the great vids sir :). Roylee
It works well for the Norton Stones. It works best after the stones have been soaked in my opinion. I do not recommend using it on other stones though.
@daddycavefish The new Nortons definitely are grainy feeling. I do remove about 1/8 inch on the 4K side until it feels smooth and the grainy feeling is completely gone. I have noticed lately that the 8K side on new ones is a little grainy too, but it does not take much lapping to get them smooth.
I normally get 2-3 months on a fresh honing and my beard is heavy and gnarly, so not sure here. I am thinking that you may benefit from dropping back to a 1K stone and getting a good foundation with a bevel setting. Then repeat the circle process on the 4K/8K with your .5 and see if that helps. Good luck.
Personally, I prefer the Norton's as I have tested the Kings several times and don't find them as consistent. That said, there are those out there who use the Kings with success. I would say give the Kings a try using either the Pyramid or Circle Process and see how they work for you before even considering buying any additional stones.
Lynn...thanks for your videos on honing. A week ago I broke down and bought a norton 4k/8 and have been tinkering. I've done well using your video but it isn't quite good enough to shave comfortably as I'd like. I have a very old barbers honing stone which is easily somewhere near the 12k area. Can you please tell me what to do with it now that I've finished up on the 8 side of the norton.
Hello Lynn, first, I really appreciate all of the videos and great information. I almost got a straight from S.R.D. but unfortunately it seemed like a lot were out of stock, hopefully it means you guys are selling razors well! But I now have a Dovo 5/8, and the company did not mention whether it was shave ready or not. So I assumed it was not and started practicing a bit with my 4K side of the stone. Would you suggest I continue with the 8K side or have it professionally honed or ready to use?
Thanks for the video! I'm glad I found this video before I started working on sharpening my own razor. I have an old ($7) razor that doesn't cut even arm hair yet that I need to sharpen, so I can actually hone my new razor. I do have to ask (the resolution of the video isn't good enough for me to tell for sure) but is that a Square and Compass on your right ring?
Hey Lynn, Love your videos. I have a vintage Wade and Butcher that I was refreshing on a 12k. I noticed that one one side, the edge did not lay flat along the entire length. I am guessing that the spine is uneven. Should I reset the bevel with a 1k then work through the 4k,8k and 12k? Or would it be best to just start with a 4k? Still learning the ropes but determined to get this right. The razor has seen lots of use before it made its way to me, as I am sure all W&B's have. Thanks, Ray
The razor may not be laying flat as a result of wear vs. any curvature of the spine. I find it best to use the Rolling X stroke on these types of razors. If the wear is not bad, just an X stroke at a 45 degree angle may work. If you're not getting the entire edge with the 45 degree angle X stroke, then definitely use the Rolling X. Try the refresh first and see if that works. If not, you can always try starting at the 4K or even re-setting a bevel at the 1K. Check out my Rolling X video. Good luck.
Hi Lynn, as a soon to be norton owner (I gave in, I was getting sick of the guessing game of a one stone on a coticule, I can do it but sometimes I don't feel like it) when originally lapping am I just going until that grainy feeling is gone when rubbing my hand on it or under a blade? Can't wait to try this method, not sure where you're pyramid method video is? Thanks
thank you so much for making this video, i took my razor to two different sharpening shops the first one made it duller and the second one sharpened it but mnot a desiered shapness, now i can save money and time because of this circle method, it took me about 8 cycles of the firm pressuer and 2 cycles of the no pressure to get my razor honed nicely. without this video i dont know if could have ever honed the razor by myself. also what would you reccoment for a finishing stone?
Great vid and very helpful. I got an old razor that the blade was not even. I first ground it down to even out the blade and use your method to set the bevel and hone the blade to pass the hair test. My question is is the X stroke important even if my razor fits the stones?
Thank you I found this video to be very informative and have taken a lot from it. I am very new to honing, I currently own a Norton 4/8k and would like to ask you advice on what other equipment I require to get a shave ready edge on my razor. I would also like to ask you about "lapping" the new stone and what that process involves. Thanks in advance!
ive got a 2 sided whetstone 1000grit/8000grit and yup i put tape on spine to preserve it and i tried it on the 8000grit side and i didnt do terribly but def not shave ready either im not sure where im going wrong so anyway i did end up sending it off to be proffessionally honed im guessing that because i didnt clean my whetstone before use is prob where i went wrong
I would not recommend a slurry stone for lapping. My concern is keeping the stone you are lapping flat and that the slurry stone would not be all that abrasive. I like to use the Shapton GDLP the best for lapping, but realize that it is expensive, so I normally will recommend the DMT 325. It works well on all stones under running water. The plates that Norton and Naniwa sells are OK for their stones only.
Some people tape the spine of the razor, some don't - which is better? I was under the impression that as you wear the blade away, it will get shorter, ergo if you taped the spine it would not wear down, and the edge angle would get gradually sharper as home wear increased. Are razor spines designed to wear down along side the blade?
Hi Lynn, I recently purchased a new straight razor that is not "shave ready" and needs to be honed and after watching your informative video on honing I was inquiring should I use the same Norton 4000/8000 or are there other honing blocks to be considered?
Can you make a video on how to properly hone a vintage blade that has uneven spine wear and has bevel issues please. Some of my wotsies have this problem and I can't get it right. I've asked ppl in srp but all I ever get is "rolling x" but that's not really getting done either. I mean they shave but by pass 2 it's clear that it's not exactly smooth. Thanks Lynn.
Great video! Anyways, I have noticed that some people lightly place their fingers over the blade while doing the circles or the x strokes to make sure its flat on the stone. I noticed that you don't. Can using your fingers effect the quality of the honing process?
hi lynn thamks for showing your method of honing. my question is if you have gold wash on the spine as well as the blade. does the honing remove the gold wash off the spine. only im going to buy a new dovo which has gold wash on the spone amd the blade..
This varies based on experience and beard type, but for most, you can usually go 2-3 months on a freshly honed edge, before you need to refresh the blade. Have fun.
How does it shave? I am not much on hanging hair tests. Also what honing regiment are you using including the number of strokes or circles. What amount of pressure are you using on the finishing stone? What finishing stone are you using? Is this your first attempt at honing?
Lynn, I've tried this on a razor that I haven't used in a while. I keep having a tinny sound to the edge. Very much like a very thin edge being dragged. I've tried going back to the 1k stone I have to set a bevel but I keep hearing it. Also hear it when I tried stropping. Of course shaving was as bad as dragging a cheese grater down my face. I'm not sure if I just need to keep doing more sets of circles or something else. I'm starting to get quite a bit of hone wear on the spine now so I think I want to start taping it. What would you suggest? I want to try and get it but I will send it to SRD if I can't. Thanks. Steve
In my opinion, you definitely can but it takes some practice. The Norton 4K/8K was the only hone I had when I started and I got to where I got great shaves from it. Today, I prefer a finishing stone after the 8K and sometimes the use of a chromium oxide or diamond paste/spray.
Lynn, to keep the blade in contact with the hone, are you torquing the blade towards the edge or pushing straight down with even pressure on the spine and edge?
Hey Lynn. Your videos were my final inspiration to buy a straight edge. I recently got a new Ralf Aust 5/8 Carbon Steel. The razor comes "shave ready" by factory standards. However I am sensitive skinned and the blade isn't flowing smoothly enough for me. As a result I have ordered a new Ohishi 6000/10000 Grit Japanese Waterstone to bring it up to the edge I need. My question is. Would you use the same technique on a 4000/8000 as on a 6000/10000?
I would give that a try. With a new razor, it may work very well. You may also just want to try 7-10 weight of the blade X strokes on the 10K first and see if that is enough. Good luck.
Lynn Abrams Thanks Lynn! Using your recommendation my razor went from being unable to cut a hanging hair to popping them in half with ease. However there is a note about that. I noticed my razor now is performing better closer to the heel than the tip. The tip can still cut a hanging hair, but not as smoothly as the heel, and will often leave the hairs dangling in half rather than cleanly cutting them in half. The stone looks pretty level to me, but as I am honing I can see that more metal is being removed from the middle/heel area than the tip. I am assuming it is a newbie technique problem. Do you have any ideas/pointers about that? Thanks again.
I don't rely on Hanging Hair Tests. Only how the razor shaves. When you are honing, it helps to keep your elbow up off the table. A little uneven pressure and you can't take back the metal you have removed. Have fun.
Hey Lynn, I've been practicing my honing on a Naniwa 3k/8k combo stone. The water doesn't pool up over the entire surface of the stone, it kind of slides in towards the middle and the edges stay dry. Should I lap it more? Try soaking it for 5-10 minutes before honing? Thanks for any input! Your videos are really helpful.
ok Lynn, I watched and read a few more things on straight razor place and have come to the conclusion that you are right: honing is not for the beginner a tight budget. so, are you still sharpening? Would you sharpen my razor? where do I send it? thanks
I just got a straight razor for Christmas, I have made two attempts to shave, but my blade feels dull. The second attempt, was after making 10 passes on the 4,000 side of my Norton 4k/8k stone. It would be much appreciated if you could give me any other information that would help me. Thanks.
also as you know the cost for a new straight razor as well as the strop etc is quit high do i need to purchase a stone straight away. or can i do that when my blade becomes dull. let's say 3 months ir so.mamy thanks hope you had a great Christmas
I personally am not a fan and don't find the HHT a reliable test. I would try stropping the razor and then giving it a test shave. If it is just pulling a little, a 1-3, 1-5 using weight of the blade pressure may be all you need. If it just glides over the beard it could either have a burr edge or need a little more work. In this case a couple back honing strokes on the 8K followed by the finishing strokes in the pyramid might be all it takes.
I'm getting a new dovo razor which I hear requires honing prior to use. Is the method you show at 11:55 sufficient enough to refine the factory bevel for shaving purporses or should the circle method be used?
John Johnson On a new razor, you really should only need a few strokes on a finishing stone for shave ready. Always strop and test shave first to see if any honing is necessary.
Hi Lynn. I have some progress in honing. Now my razor can cut a thin hair right near the holding point after a 6000 grit water stone. But when I try to continue the honing on my finishing stone, the blade loses its ability to cut head hairs altogether. What am I doing wrong?
Hey Lynn, love the vids! You actually inspired me to hone myself. I recently got a used TI and the edge does not sit flat on the hone. It seems to have been overhoned/too much pressure at the heel and then rocked over to do the tip as it did not touch the hone. Should I go at with my 1k norton until the edge is flat to reset the bevel or do as some people have suggested rolling x stokes and leave the smile in?
Hi Jason. These can be tough sometimes. You may want to put a layer of tape on it and just hit the one side until it lays flat and then work both sides. The uneven wear will always be there and noticeable at the top of the bevel, but once the bevel is set, the edge should function well. Rolling X is definitely an other alternative. I would have to see the blade to give you better advice. Good luck.
Lynn Abrams That's quite strange, I've noticed that on my brand new T.I. as well, it's almost as if they machine hone it. I was tossing up whether to reset the bevel too, I ended up using the Pyramid Method, although I got a really nice edge, i found that I had to do about 30 plus laps on the Norton 8k to get that polish and remove hairs midway, same thing on another razor. They tend to like sitting on the 8k for a while, not sure why.
great videos, i just bought the norton 4k/8k from you, and my question is when i want to hone my razor and set a bevel not sure if should kill the edge or not? been using your circle method, still confused on how much pressure to use? and finally should i invest in a finsishing stone and if so witch one? Thanks Lynn
+Stay Smooth Shaving I normally do not kill an edge before honing. I would use firm pressure 3-5 lbs approx if trying to set a bevel on the 4K. For finishing, the Naniwa 12K is a very reliable and consistent stone. I use one every day when honing. Have fun!
Hello Lynn, I was wondering about the Colonel Ichabod Conk sharpening stone as a stone to do general honing with. I believe the grit is 800-1000. I have a Rasiermesser Heinr. Boker Baumwerk Soligen, and have been using it for about 5 months now. I've tried honing a few times with the Ichabod Conk in that time, but very little (just a few strokes on a few occasions). It seems like it needs to be honed by now. Is this stone okay for general honing on a nice razor? If not, will you recommend one? Thanks. Erik
If the grit your are stating is correct, then it would be best suited to setting a bevel at the beginning of the honing process. I do not use this stone.
Hello Lynn, I am new to straight razor shaving, however I have been unable to fully enjoy the experience since my straight razor (Dovo 5/8) just isn't sharp enough after stropping and paste, I am considering honing it, specially after seeing your informative video. However I am aware that many people do not advise newbies to attempt to hone their razors since we will most likely ruin them, What are your thoughts? am I heading towards disaster or do I stand a fair chance?
Lynn thanks for all great videos , Generally i use the x method for hone my razors(15/15, 10/10, ...etc , but as an expert would you advise me to change my way to the circular method?
If the current method is working, I would stick with that unless you just want to experiment with the circles and see if you like that method any better. Thanks.
Hey Lynn. I'm looking to get my first razor and I only want to order it from SRD. Any idea of when you will have Dovo 5/8 back in stock. Thank you for your videos.
I got a Dovo Bismarck from vintage blades that arrived today and it said on the invoice that you did the honing, it was the best shave I have ever gotten from any of my blades, thank you, and thank you for your videos.
Lynn Abrams, just want to pay you a compliment. You are a legend. Thanks for all your help through UA-cam and SRP.
+Curt McConnell He truly is a legend in this field.
Hi, I usually recommend that someone send out their first razor as it takes a little practice to become successful or start having successful results when you are learning to hone. It's like learning to use the straight razor which takes most people a few weeks to start getting the hang of it. It was an amazing holiday season for razors and we are all waiting on the manufacturers to re-stock. All the best.
I've been practicing. 5 nights a week for 3 weeks and more dull every try. I was about to throw in the towel until I came across this tutorial. Bless you, Mr. Abrams. You've saved my sanity.
just got my norton 4k/8k today. the circle method certainly put one heck of an edge on my razors. had to stop myself from shaving my arms clean. cant thank you enough for this and all your other videos lynn
Just wanted to drop you a note to say Thank you for this video! I bought a Dovo Best Quality from you and you were kind enough to hone it for me. Well,long story short, the razor got dull and I didn't want to mess it up, I let a gentleman who said he was a hone meister work with it. He messed it up. I watched this video and decided to try fixing the Dovo with you method. It worked great, and I'm a total newbie on honing!! Thank you!!
AWESOME tutorial!!! Made 9 years ago and still helping geezers like me with refreshers on sharpening a straight edge. Thank you Mr. Abrams!
Very thorough and easy-to-follow process! Thank you for sharing your expertise and experience. With my having just acquired the Norton 4k/8k, your explanation and demonstration of 'how to' properly hone on this stone is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your expertise Mr. Abrams! I just got my first straight edged razor ever... I'm a little apprehensive about shaving with a straight edge, but I like the fact that I won't have to pay Gillette anymore! They've made enough money from me over two decades or more! Now after my initial start-up cost a Naked Armor by Solomon; my razor has a 64 HRC hardness scale for edge retention! I will start saving money from here on out! My Sharpton stones were purchased with funds from my carpentry/painting company.. So I already have had the stones for some time! Now I put them to better usage! Thanks again for a great video Mr. Abrams!
11 years later, and I still reference this video when I need to hone my straight razors.
Lynn Thank you so much for this video and your detailed explanation of the procedure. You saved me from throwing out a $90 straight edge razor.
Joe Orapello Jr Thanks Joe!
Mr. Abrams, thank you so much for the videos. Could not figure out what I'd been doing wrong with stropping and honing. I am now almost afraid to shave with the sharpness of the edge I was able to put on my razor tonight. Barely ran my blade along my arm and hair flew off! I was ready to shelf my straight razor but not now.
your a legend. i tried other ways but the circle method of yours is fast and easy , i am now a very well shaved man . thanks guy
Watching this to see where I'm going wrong and in the first minute or so I've already learned a couple of things I have done wrong, you sir are a legend!
hzh hzh it's best to keep it sharp on a leather strop but when it stops cutting well and starts to snag or pull the hair, that's when you want to hone again, so it will need doing again, sometimes once every few months and sometimes once a week, it depends on many things.
hzh hzh I have a few stones now, ranging from 1k to 12k grit.
That Guy Max! Would you know where I could get a cheap stone of similar grit? I only have a $80 budget to work with. My razor is screaming at me after 8-12 months of abuse...
Thanks for sharing with us Lynn, I been honing for 30+ years, Different blades. still learning thanks.
I put a dent in my blade from the tap, I took the dent out and brought the blade back just with this stone and method. It's now sharper then when I bought it. This was the first time I have tried honing and I haven't been using a straight razor for long. Thanks yo your video I am now able to use and maintain my blade without any other help
I find that by keeping even pressure on both the spine and edge, the stone does it's work on the edge and I can feel the feedback from the stone when working on it. I don't intentionally put any additional torque on the edge.
There is a lot of personal preference when it comes to honing equipment and processes. I like following the circles with X strokes because I feel it helps refine the edge after the circles and this process has proven to be very consistent and repeatable in producing nice shaving edges. I also feel that the angled striations cut a little better for me.
I usually don't recommend placing the fingers of the other hand on the blade as this can cause uneven pressure when you are performing either circles or X strokes and that pressure may vary on both sides of the razor. That said, some people have become successful in using this approach. What works best for you is normally the most positive and successful thing to do.
Thanks for the good counsel brother. I think I figured out why my razor shaved like broken glass last time I tried to hone! I'm gonna try this method and see if I have better luck now that I also lapped my Norton 4k/8k stone as well.
You are correct. Both the spine and the edge are on the stone when honing.
Some folks do use tape on the spine when they hone. It does create a micro bevel in the edge. Normally, I only will tape to protect the spine from wear on a damascus or fancy pattern type razor or when I am repairing an edge and removing a lot of metal.
I love ya man! I just set my first bevel and honed all the way to the 12k Naniwa. Woohoo! Im sending ya a man hug brother! Thank you for what you do! Thanking the family or to eat tonight. Lol! Thanks again! Greg B.
Not yet. I normally use a DMT 325 or Shapton Glass Lapping Plate on the new Norton's. It is almost like an eighth of an inch that needs to be removed from the 4K side to get the grainy feeling to go away. Not so much on the 8K side. I have used wet-dry sandpaper up to 600 grit without any problems though. You definitely have to rinse more it seems to me, when using the sand paper.
I normally recommend new people just try to use either chromium oxide or .5 micron diamond paste or spray to refresh their razors prior to picking up any stones. When that quits working, then pick up a 12K or finishing stone. If you are going to be buying ebay razors and doing more honing then pick up a full set and start practicing.
Saul Riste The above is a great way to get started. My preference in stones is Naniwa because of their reliability and consistency for me.
Saul Riste My preference is Naniwa for all.
Results will vary by skill level, type of razor and your personal sensitivity to shaving. I would recommend that you practice some with just going up to the 8K to develop your sense of your results, test shaving and then deciding from there what is the next best step for you.
Hey Lynn, well thanks for the reply and I will find a honer. I will keep an eye on the forums and keep reading on the maintenance and patterns for honing. Again thanks and best regards from Los Angeles. Cheers!
Lynn, your videos are a wealth of knowledge, thank you for sharing! The most interesting man in the world was themed after Lynn Abrams. True story.
Hi Brian, The Norton 4K/8K should work fine on a new razor. You may want to incorporate a finishing stone along with chromium oxide or .5 diamond as well.
One of the best videos on the site. Thank you!
Honing, like straight razor shaving itself takes practice. Most people are not successful the first few tries. Pressure is very important especially when on the final part of the process. Having the bevel set properly is also key. At this point, you may want to try a short pyramid like a 1-3 and 1-5 on the 4K/8K and see if that helps wake up the edge. If not, I would give the process another go.
Some people use the Nagura that comes with the 1K for both or either cleaning and making slurry. I find that I do not need slurry on the 1K Chosera. It is pretty quick on it's own for bevel setting. I normally just use a DMT 325 or GDLP for cleaning and lapping it.
Have fun.
Great video Brother. Im new to straight razors and your videos are a great source for the beginner,
Hi Daniel,
We have them on order and hopefully soon. Be on the look out for some new Aust razors to hit soon, but be quick as they will be gone quickly. Great razors!!
The X pattern for me is a personal preference. Some people to a large X pattern while others do a very small X pattern keeping the blade on the stone for the most part. In my opinion, if you are just going up and down and it is producing good edges for you, that is all you need.
Wow...I think I screwed my straight razor up. I was trying last night to sharpen it on the same stone you have,(new right out of the box) was going back and forth, and could not get the blade to take the hair off my arm? I think it might have been the X pattern that I wasn't doing. I was trying every method to no avail.
It is. Always nice to meet another Traveler. Thanks!
Lynn Abrams I tried this method the other day Lynn. I repeated the 40 circles method x2 with a fair bit of pressure, then did the 40 circles x1 with weight of the blade pressure. Didn't even come close to getting it proper as I think I rounded the edge off. I felt like I was going to shave my skin right off when I went to test shave with it. Should I go back and re-hone using the same technique? Thanks!
Honing like straight razor shaving takes some practice to become proficient. Most do not achieve success first time out, but I encourage people to learn and practice so that you can become successful in maintaining your own razors.
Hi Lynn, I am learning so much from watching your videos!! Do you round the edges of your norton or naniwa stones?
Douglas Embry I do not. You certainly can though.
Hey there, I read a few comments here, but not all hope this is not a repet, the vid is great thank you for posting, I am a knife sharpener by trade and thought about straight razors, and it looks like you have it down right, good job. So now you know I will be asking questions when i start myself lol. Keep up with the great vids sir :). Roylee
It works well for the Norton Stones. It works best after the stones have been soaked in my opinion. I do not recommend using it on other stones though.
@daddycavefish The new Nortons definitely are grainy feeling. I do remove about 1/8 inch on the 4K side until it feels smooth and the grainy feeling is completely gone. I have noticed lately that the 8K side on new ones is a little grainy too, but it does not take much lapping to get them smooth.
I am working on one which should be up in the next few weeks. Thanks.
I normally get 2-3 months on a fresh honing and my beard is heavy and gnarly, so not sure here. I am thinking that you may benefit from dropping back to a 1K stone and getting a good foundation with a bevel setting. Then repeat the circle process on the 4K/8K with your .5 and see if that helps. Good luck.
Personally, I prefer the Norton's as I have tested the Kings several times and don't find them as consistent. That said, there are those out there who use the Kings with success. I would say give the Kings a try using either the Pyramid or Circle Process and see how they work for you before even considering buying any additional stones.
Lynn...thanks for your videos on honing. A week ago I broke down and bought a norton 4k/8 and have been tinkering. I've done well using your video but it isn't quite good enough to shave comfortably as I'd like. I have a very old barbers honing stone which is easily somewhere near the 12k area. Can you please tell me what to do with it now that I've finished up on the 8 side of the norton.
In my opinion, once it starts to pool in the middle of the stone you are ready to go. Just spray the hone with water and start honing.
@GUNSnARMYRN Will do Paul!! Thanks and Happy New Year!!
Thanks. Yes I am. Let me know if I can ever help you out.
Hello Lynn, first, I really appreciate all of the videos and great information. I almost got a straight from S.R.D. but unfortunately it seemed like a lot were out of stock, hopefully it means you guys are selling razors well! But I now have a Dovo 5/8, and the company did not mention whether it was shave ready or not. So I assumed it was not and started practicing a bit with my 4K side of the stone. Would you suggest I continue with the 8K side or have it professionally honed or ready to use?
Thanks for the video! I'm glad I found this video before I started working on sharpening my own razor. I have an old ($7) razor that doesn't cut even arm hair yet that I need to sharpen, so I can actually hone my new razor.
I do have to ask (the resolution of the video isn't good enough for me to tell for sure) but is that a Square and Compass on your right ring?
Outstanding Brother, and of course brotherly love extends to you as well.
Hey Lynn,
Love your videos. I have a vintage Wade and Butcher that I was refreshing on a 12k. I noticed that one one side, the edge did not lay flat along the entire length. I am guessing that the spine is uneven. Should I reset the bevel with a 1k then work through the 4k,8k and 12k? Or would it be best to just start with a 4k? Still learning the ropes but determined to get this right. The razor has seen lots of use before it made its way to me, as I am sure all W&B's have.
Thanks,
Ray
The razor may not be laying flat as a result of wear vs. any curvature of the spine. I find it best to use the Rolling X stroke on these types of razors. If the wear is not bad, just an X stroke at a 45 degree angle may work. If you're not getting the entire edge with the 45 degree angle X stroke, then definitely use the Rolling X. Try the refresh first and see if that works. If not, you can always try starting at the 4K or even re-setting a bevel at the 1K. Check out my Rolling X video. Good luck.
Hi Lynn, as a soon to be norton owner (I gave in, I was getting sick of the guessing game of a one stone on a coticule, I can do it but sometimes I don't feel like it) when originally lapping am I just going until that grainy feeling is gone when rubbing my hand on it or under a blade?
Can't wait to try this method, not sure where you're pyramid method video is?
Thanks
awesome vid. Lynn, Thanks. my dovo razors I got from SRD last feb still very sharp.
nicely done Lynn. when ya coming back down to Houston? Give a heads up so we can get some range time in also!!!
Str8shooter Paul.
thank you so much for making this video, i took my razor to two different sharpening shops the first one made it duller and the second one sharpened it but mnot a desiered shapness, now i can save money and time because of this circle method, it took me about 8 cycles of the firm pressuer and 2 cycles of the no pressure to get my razor honed nicely. without this video i dont know if could have ever honed the razor by myself. also what would you reccoment for a finishing stone?
Great vid and very helpful. I got an old razor that the blade was not even. I first ground it down to even out the blade and use your method to set the bevel and hone the blade to pass the hair test. My question is is the X stroke important even if my razor fits the stones?
Thank you I found this video to be very informative and have taken a lot from it. I am very new to honing, I currently own a Norton 4/8k and would like to ask you advice on what other equipment I require to get a shave ready edge on my razor. I would also like to ask you about "lapping" the new stone and what that process involves.
Thanks in advance!
ive got a 2 sided whetstone 1000grit/8000grit and yup i put tape on spine to preserve it and i tried it on the 8000grit side and i didnt do terribly but def not shave ready either im not sure where im going wrong so anyway i did end up sending it off to be proffessionally honed im guessing that because i didnt clean my whetstone before use is prob where i went wrong
Light pressure on the 8K is key too.
and a very happy new yr. i intend to buy your combination paddle which i think is genius and some excellent reviews. do you sell to the uk.
I would not recommend a slurry stone for lapping. My concern is keeping the stone you are lapping flat and that the slurry stone would not be all that abrasive. I like to use the Shapton GDLP the best for lapping, but realize that it is expensive, so I normally will recommend the DMT 325. It works well on all stones under running water. The plates that Norton and Naniwa sells are OK for their stones only.
Some people tape the spine of the razor, some don't - which is better? I was under the impression that as you wear the blade away, it will get shorter, ergo if you taped the spine it would not wear down, and the edge angle would get gradually sharper as home wear increased. Are razor spines designed to wear down along side the blade?
Hi Lynn, I recently purchased a new straight razor that is not "shave ready" and needs to be honed and after watching your informative video on honing I was inquiring should I use the same Norton 4000/8000 or are there other honing blocks to be considered?
Can you make a video on how to properly hone a vintage blade that has uneven spine wear and has bevel issues please. Some of my wotsies have this problem and I can't get it right. I've asked ppl in srp but all I ever get is "rolling x" but that's not really getting done either. I mean they shave but by pass 2 it's clear that it's not exactly smooth. Thanks Lynn.
Great video! Anyways, I have noticed that some people lightly place their fingers over the blade while doing the circles or the x strokes to make sure its flat on the stone. I noticed that you don't. Can using your fingers effect the quality of the honing process?
Lynn why don't you upload any more?
hi lynn thamks for showing your method of honing. my question is if you have gold wash on the spine as well as the blade. does the honing remove the gold wash off the spine. only im going to buy a new dovo which has gold wash on the spone amd the blade..
Lynn,
You make it look so easy! If I buy a Shave ready razor, how often will I have to do this?
This varies based on experience and beard type, but for most, you can usually go 2-3 months on a freshly honed edge, before you need to refresh the blade. Have fun.
How does it shave? I am not much on hanging hair tests. Also what honing regiment are you using including the number of strokes or circles. What amount of pressure are you using on the finishing stone? What finishing stone are you using? Is this your first attempt at honing?
Hi Lynn, You are going pretty fast. Are you doing actual circles on the stone?? I'm a newbie.
Douglas Embry Yes. Small circles vs bigger looping circles. Have fun.
Should have it done and up in the next couple weeks. Thanks.
Lynn, I've tried this on a razor that I haven't used in a while. I keep having a tinny sound to the edge. Very much like a very thin edge being dragged. I've tried going back to the 1k stone I have to set a bevel but I keep hearing it. Also hear it when I tried stropping. Of course shaving was as bad as dragging a cheese grater down my face. I'm not sure if I just need to keep doing more sets of circles or something else. I'm starting to get quite a bit of hone wear on the spine now so I think I want to start taping it. What would you suggest? I want to try and get it but I will send it to SRD if I can't. Thanks. Steve
Great video Brother Harim
In my opinion, you definitely can but it takes some practice. The Norton 4K/8K was the only hone I had when I started and I got to where I got great shaves from it. Today, I prefer a finishing stone after the 8K and sometimes the use of a chromium oxide or diamond paste/spray.
I always strop a razor after honing it and also before every shave.
Thanks for the video. Currently having restoring a Dubl Duck.
Not sure on this one. I have not had that problem except with an edge that had a ton of pitting or rust.
Take a look at SRP and PM Jimbo. He does a lot of honing in Oz I think. Have fun.
I was wondering if you were laying the razor completely flat including the spine of the razor while you're sharpening?
Lynn, to keep the blade in contact with the hone, are you torquing the blade towards the edge or pushing straight down with even pressure on the spine and edge?
Not a problem, but your best best would be to find someone in your area and sit down with them so that they can see what you are doing.
Hey Lynn. Your videos were my final inspiration to buy a straight edge.
I recently got a new Ralf Aust 5/8 Carbon Steel. The razor comes "shave ready" by factory standards. However I am sensitive skinned and the blade isn't flowing smoothly enough for me. As a result I have ordered a new Ohishi 6000/10000 Grit Japanese Waterstone to bring it up to the edge I need.
My question is. Would you use the same technique on a 4000/8000 as on a 6000/10000?
I would give that a try. With a new razor, it may work very well. You may also just want to try 7-10 weight of the blade X strokes on the 10K first and see if that is enough. Good luck.
Lynn Abrams Thanks Lynn! Using your recommendation my razor went from being unable to cut a hanging hair to popping them in half with ease.
However there is a note about that. I noticed my razor now is performing better closer to the heel than the tip. The tip can still cut a hanging hair, but not as smoothly as the heel, and will often leave the hairs dangling in half rather than cleanly cutting them in half. The stone looks pretty level to me, but as I am honing I can see that more metal is being removed from the middle/heel area than the tip. I am assuming it is a newbie technique problem. Do you have any ideas/pointers about that?
Thanks again.
I don't rely on Hanging Hair Tests. Only how the razor shaves. When you are honing, it helps to keep your elbow up off the table. A little uneven pressure and you can't take back the metal you have removed. Have fun.
Hey Lynn, I've been practicing my honing on a Naniwa 3k/8k combo stone. The water doesn't pool up over the entire surface of the stone, it kind of slides in towards the middle and the edges stay dry. Should I lap it more? Try soaking it for 5-10 minutes before honing? Thanks for any input! Your videos are really helpful.
ok Lynn, I watched and read a few more things on straight razor place and have come to the conclusion that you are right: honing is not for the beginner a tight budget. so, are you still sharpening? Would you sharpen my razor? where do I send it? thanks
I do James. You can send it through Straight Razor Designs.
I just got a straight razor for Christmas, I have made two attempts to shave, but my blade feels dull. The second attempt, was after making 10 passes on the 4,000 side of my Norton 4k/8k stone. It would be much appreciated if you could give me any other information that would help me. Thanks.
also as you know the cost for a new straight razor as well as the strop etc is quit high do i need to purchase a stone straight away. or can i do that when my blade becomes dull. let's say 3 months ir so.mamy thanks hope you had a great Christmas
Nice video Lynn. Very informative.
I personally am not a fan and don't find the HHT a reliable test. I would try stropping the razor and then giving it a test shave. If it is just pulling a little, a 1-3, 1-5 using weight of the blade pressure may be all you need. If it just glides over the beard it could either have a burr edge or need a little more work. In this case a couple back honing strokes on the 8K followed by the finishing strokes in the pyramid might be all it takes.
I'm getting a new dovo razor which I hear requires honing prior to use. Is the method you show at 11:55 sufficient enough to refine the factory bevel for shaving purporses or should the circle method be used?
John Johnson On a new razor, you really should only need a few strokes on a finishing stone for shave ready. Always strop and test shave first to see if any honing is necessary.
@@LynnSAbrams I have a 127 Ilinois strop. How many strops would you recommend on the leather and linen side given the scenario I brought up?
John Johnson 10-15 strokes on the canvas followed by 25-30 on the leather.
Hi Lynn. I have some progress in honing. Now my razor can cut a thin hair right near the holding point after a 6000 grit water stone. But when I try to continue the honing on my finishing stone, the blade loses its ability to cut head hairs altogether. What am I doing wrong?
Hey Lynn, love the vids! You actually inspired me to hone myself.
I recently got a used TI and the edge does not sit flat on the hone. It seems to have been overhoned/too much pressure at the heel and then rocked over to do the tip as it did not touch the hone. Should I go at with my 1k norton until the edge is flat to reset the bevel or do as some people have suggested rolling x stokes and leave the smile in?
Hi Jason. These can be tough sometimes. You may want to put a layer of tape on it and just hit the one side until it lays flat and then work both sides. The uneven wear will always be there and noticeable at the top of the bevel, but once the bevel is set, the edge should function well. Rolling X is definitely an other alternative. I would have to see the blade to give you better advice. Good luck.
Lynn Abrams That's quite strange, I've noticed that on my brand new T.I. as well, it's almost as if they machine hone it. I was tossing up whether to reset the bevel too, I ended up using the Pyramid Method, although I got a really nice edge, i found that I had to do about 30 plus laps on the Norton 8k to get that polish and remove hairs midway, same thing on another razor. They tend to like sitting on the 8k for a while, not sure why.
Warped in factory
great videos, i just bought the norton 4k/8k from you, and my question is when i want to hone my razor and set a bevel not sure if should kill the edge or not? been using your circle method, still confused on how much pressure to use? and finally should i invest in a finsishing stone and if so witch one? Thanks Lynn
+Stay Smooth Shaving I normally do not kill an edge before honing. I would use firm pressure 3-5 lbs approx if trying to set a bevel on the 4K. For finishing, the Naniwa 12K is a very reliable and consistent stone. I use one every day when honing. Have fun!
Hello Lynn, I was wondering about the Colonel Ichabod Conk sharpening stone as a stone to do general honing with. I believe the grit is 800-1000. I have a Rasiermesser Heinr. Boker Baumwerk Soligen, and have been using it for about 5 months now. I've tried honing a few times with the Ichabod Conk in that time, but very little (just a few strokes on a few occasions). It seems like it needs to be honed by now. Is this stone okay for general honing on a nice razor? If not, will you recommend one? Thanks. Erik
If the grit your are stating is correct, then it would be best suited to setting a bevel at the beginning of the honing process. I do not use this stone.
Hello Lynn, I am new to straight razor shaving, however I have been unable to fully enjoy the experience since my straight razor (Dovo 5/8) just isn't sharp enough after stropping and paste, I am considering honing it, specially after seeing your informative video. However I am aware that many people do not advise newbies to attempt to hone their razors since we will most likely ruin them, What are your thoughts? am I heading towards disaster or do I stand a fair chance?
Thanks. What is the best result you can achieve with the 8K? I mean sharpness. When do you feel you should proceed honing with a finishing stone?
When a blade has a bit of an up sweep towards the toe does that all need to be honed out behind it until the entire bevel is touching at once?
Lynn thanks for all great videos , Generally i use the x method for hone my razors(15/15, 10/10, ...etc , but as an expert would you advise me to change my way to the circular method?
If the current method is working, I would stick with that unless you just want to experiment with the circles and see if you like that method any better. Thanks.
Hey Lynn. I'm looking to get my first razor and I only want to order it from SRD. Any idea of when you will have Dovo 5/8 back in stock. Thank you for your videos.
can you sharpen straight blades in a fixed sharpener like the KME or Edge Pro? Or are the angles to high?