Matt
Well-Known Member
Folks, how long does it take you to do a full honing, from scratch? By this, I mean building a proper bevel and then Dilucotting it all the way to an end.
I know this is a kind of unusual experience, but it took me over 2 hrs to complete the job yesterday. Talk about a serious family life spoiler! :scared: At first, I decided to work the bevel with one of my coticules I assume to be the most proper for it (#14); after using pretty thick slurry bevel faces appeared, but no matter what I couldn't get to arm hair shaving (AHS). By now probably those experienced know, where this is heading. After wasting some time I came to the conclusion that I began with a coticule too soon, moved to 500-1000-1500 progression, still no AHS, but since I have initiated all of my razors this way, I started with some regular milky slurry, this time on my new, mellow La Grosse Blanche.
The air in my apartment is dry as a fucking desert, but it's really hard to notice, when you're doing fast halfstrokes, that slurry is gradually losing more water than it should. I was struggling for another 20 or 40 minutes until I realised that, unnoticeably, I'm slowly getting the slurry thicker and thicker at the end of each halfstrokes set. I did a bigger dilution and from now on everything started to go well, I reached AHS, then I lost it - again got slurry thicker - finally I finished Dilucot, reaching some HHT 2,5 after clean water. I was too tired to try the soap thing this evening. Stropped, HHT-4 with my thick hair, test shave on its way.
I strongly believe that I could go with a coticule alone, if I only thinned the initial bevel setting slurry significantly. I could not see the edge against bright light, so bevel faces were formed and meeting properly. Note to all, who are not yet experienced enough to do it all without thinking - keep your slurry watered well. I think I underestimated how much (too thick) slurry can dull your edge. I'm aware that it's already been said many times, but the more the better I suppose?
regards,
Matt
I know this is a kind of unusual experience, but it took me over 2 hrs to complete the job yesterday. Talk about a serious family life spoiler! :scared: At first, I decided to work the bevel with one of my coticules I assume to be the most proper for it (#14); after using pretty thick slurry bevel faces appeared, but no matter what I couldn't get to arm hair shaving (AHS). By now probably those experienced know, where this is heading. After wasting some time I came to the conclusion that I began with a coticule too soon, moved to 500-1000-1500 progression, still no AHS, but since I have initiated all of my razors this way, I started with some regular milky slurry, this time on my new, mellow La Grosse Blanche.
The air in my apartment is dry as a fucking desert, but it's really hard to notice, when you're doing fast halfstrokes, that slurry is gradually losing more water than it should. I was struggling for another 20 or 40 minutes until I realised that, unnoticeably, I'm slowly getting the slurry thicker and thicker at the end of each halfstrokes set. I did a bigger dilution and from now on everything started to go well, I reached AHS, then I lost it - again got slurry thicker - finally I finished Dilucot, reaching some HHT 2,5 after clean water. I was too tired to try the soap thing this evening. Stropped, HHT-4 with my thick hair, test shave on its way.
I strongly believe that I could go with a coticule alone, if I only thinned the initial bevel setting slurry significantly. I could not see the edge against bright light, so bevel faces were formed and meeting properly. Note to all, who are not yet experienced enough to do it all without thinking - keep your slurry watered well. I think I underestimated how much (too thick) slurry can dull your edge. I'm aware that it's already been said many times, but the more the better I suppose?
regards,
Matt