Homemade Hone

bokaba · 10-07-2008, 03:54 AM

I have difficult getting my razors extra sharp with my stone grit hone. I am tempted to make a hone by stretching fine grit sandpaper over a wood block and adding water. Some people may think this is an awful idea, but I'm just brainstorming here. Let me know what you think.

Chris L · 10-07-2008, 04:06 AM

There are some here that hone on fine grit wet/dry sandpaper and even finer honing films. As long as you're not referring to non "wet/dry" sandpaper, you find grit fine enough (that's the tough part) and you fix your paper properly to a very flat surface, then......go for it.

What stone are you trying to use and what problems are you having? What type of razor are you trying to hone? New or vintage? What condition is the edge? More info will help in any diagnosis.

Chris L

bokaba · 10-07-2008, 04:40 AM

I am using a 4000/8000 on an antique Boker (made in end of 19th Cent. I think) Blade is in excellent condition and edge is very good. How do you suggest I adhere the paper to the wood. Wood glue? How fine of grit sand paper should I use?

Chris L · 10-07-2008, 04:52 AM

First you'd have to find a wet/dry sandpaper in grits equal to and/or greater than your 8000 grit Norton or you'll be going backwards. Honing on 2000 grit wet/dry for example would not make for a comfortable shaving edge.

Really, if your edge is good as you say, you have the tool necessary to create a shaveable edge with your Norton. What exactly is not working for you on the Norton? What is your edge not doing?

If you did go the wet/dry route, you'd need to ensure the wood was really flat. Otherwise purchasing a 12"x12" polished marble floor tile at a home improvement store for about $3 is a good surface to use. With a floor tile, taping the wet dry down firmly works well and makes gluing unnecessary.

Chris L

bokaba · 10-07-2008, 04:57 AM

Additionally. I am new to this and not good at honing and stropping yet. I am getting better though! I am using a Zeepk for practice (what else can they be used for?).

bokaba · 10-07-2008, 04:59 AM

Because if I can get the Zeepk sharp, I can get anything sharp!

OLD_SCHOOL · 10-07-2008, 05:25 AM

Sandpaper is a cheap route to go, but you have to be extremely careful to ensure there are no pockets of air underneath it of you'll make a mess of your razor. You might be better off investing in another hone such as a Coticule or an Escher, or even another synthetic hone which is higher in grit to the 8k.

Was your Boker shave ready when you purchased it? Or are you sure it had a decent bevel to start with? Some people can shave directly from the 8k, but this is only possible if you have a decent bevel set.

Throw away your Zeepk and get another cheap fleabay razor to practice with.

Since you are beginning, I would like to suggest you get a razor professionally honed, by one of the many members here, who offer honing service. This way you have a benchmark and know what to aim for when you are honing. I am guessing you only have the one decent razor which is the Boker? They are a good brand, and excellent shavers, so send that one to be honed, if you haven't already, and as I mentioned, get another decent blade off fleabay for practising. Decent just means like, a recognised brand, a blade that don't have massive chips in the edge. It can even have some rust on it, but best not to have any near the edge. Or you may even ask around and see if anyone has a spare blade, that you can borrow or purchase, just for practise, which may be a cheaper way to go.

Them is just a few possibilities for you.

nickyspaghetti · 10-07-2008, 06:14 AM

I can't say I've had any luck with paper.
It is fast but I always have to go back to a stone to correct a rounded out bevel. Maybe it is the brand of paper I used but I couldn't see any irregularity on the surface, only feel the results on the edge.
I know others have managed fine with paper though.
If you are having problems with the Norton, I can't imagine that using sandpaper will be a revolution for you. You may need to go to a coarser stone, or just keep honing with the norton as it is quite a skill to learn.

PonderingTurtle · 10-07-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bokaba

Because if I can get the Zeepk sharp, I can get anything sharp!

Maybe, but the techniques for it might not be the same as you would need for a better razor. They seem to be soft metal so they would hone faster than a good razor.

Have you bought Lynn's video?

Bruno · 10-08-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bokaba

Because if I can get the Zeepk sharp, I can get anything sharp!

The problem is that zeepk are worthless.
If you don't want to spend much money on a practise razor, buy a wapienica. They're cheap, but are excellent blades and are fairly easy to hone. If you ask in the classifieds, you should be able to find a decent practise razor for 40$ or less.

If you learn to hone with a zeepk, you will either
a) give up because it takes too long (I wouldn't know if I could do it)
b) hone wrong, because a real razor behaves very different.

real razors are made of good steel and hardened to 57 - 62 Rockwell harness. A zeepk will be made of whatever metal they had at the junkyard that day, and nowhere near as hard. I'ts behavior on the hone will not be the same.

It's a bit like learning to play tennis with a frying pan, on the assumption that if you can play a decent game of tennis with a frying pan, you'll be able to play with a real tennis racket.

junkinduck · 10-08-2008, 11:43 AM

If you have a 4K/8K I assume you are talking norton. I will ask the standard question is it flat and if not that is a good place to start. Also if you have the norton why would you want to use sandpaper? The norton is a very easy stone to learn on. And to get the most from your norton drop the cash on a DMT-C you will not be sorry. The DMT was the turning point for me on the norton.

Don