Budget razor honing session

[Bicep123]

Finally started on honing my odd collection of budget razors. What started off as collecting cheap randoms to practice my honing, ended up in a pile while I procrastinated. All but one (can you guess which?) cost less than $30.

All geometry problems off the spine fixed (tap and wobble test) and then taped. Bevel set on a Naniwa 1K, 3K, then Shapton Pro 5K. I usually progress further on to a Naniwa 8K, then Shapton Pro 12K. Strop on linen, then leather, before shave. Generally okay shaves, but now that I have properly honed razors to compare. I know I still have a long way to go to get the kind of edges that I want. I have been experimenting with the CNAT Adaee 12K and a tiny 7x3cm coticule, off the 5K, but usually end up dulling the edge (probably the fault of technique).

 

[Mouette]

Great stuff - the only way to learn honing is to practice... lots!

I don't seem to be able to get a great shaving edge of my 12k Shapton and do the finishing on some cheap chinese strops with green and black Dovo paste. Actually get some good edges of this.

Have you modified your Gold Dollar 66 in any way. Following advice from a group on Facebook, I modified the heel and toe as well as a reduction on the shoulder. The shoulder reduction seemed to make a big difference on the honing.

cheers
Andrew

 

[Bicep123]

Great stuff - the only way to learn honing is to practice... lots!

I don't seem to be able to get a great shaving edge of my 12k Shapton and do the finishing on some cheap chinese strops with green and black Dovo paste. Actually get some good edges of this.

Have you modified your Gold Dollar 66 in any way. Following advice from a group on Facebook, I modified the heel and toe as well as a reduction on the shoulder. The shoulder reduction seemed to make a big difference on the honing.

cheers
Andrew

I ground the heel back on the GD100 and then fixed the geometry issues on the spine. A lot easier to hone this way than straight out of the box.

I have two GD66s from @rbscebu from his PIFs that he worked his magic on. I compare my edges directly with these.

The Dovo paste is probably better than the green CrOx paste off AliX. I haven't gotten a nice edge directly off the Shapton 12K as well.

 

[Bicep123]

Well, that's no good. Thought I could grind it back to good steel, but on closer inspection, looks almost a third up the grind. Been too long since I purchased, so no chance of refund. I've pulled the scales off to keep as spares, but the razor itself is going in the bin. No cracks on the other Titans at least.