Thread: Experimenting with some jointing techniques

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Who came up with the term 'Jointing' for this, anyway? Curious?

Actually Tom, woodworkers have used this technique for many years and it is where I first heard the term. Since then I have also seen people use it while honing knives. I only use it as a tool personally but it is in fact a valid technique that many people use across varying disciplines. Like taping a spine, using a secondary bevel, whittling hair or HHT, pastes, synthetic vs natural. All seem to be tools that are there if you want to use them. But again, to answer your question, I think the term far predates SRP using it. IMO

I look at breadboarding as something you do straight up and down BEFORE high-angle honing and finally spine flat.
Alas, extreme measures for extreme circumstances!
Now a light stroke on a glass bottle or the corner of the hone I have always referred to as 'killing' the edge, the bottle being less extreme......

It's all so confusing, this terminology and such, but I usually just call a spade.....A spade!

I first heard the term used by Harellson Stanley, well known Japanese chisel & plane blade honer, and owner of Shapton USA, at least back 7-8 years ago he was, not sure about now.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I look at breadboarding as something you do straight up and down BEFORE high-angle honing and finally spine flat.
Alas, extreme measures for extreme circumstances!
Now a light stroke on a glass bottle or the corner of the hone I have always referred to as 'killing' the edge, the bottle being less extreme......

It's all so confusing, this terminology and such, but I usually just call a spade.....A spade!

I also always called it "Killing the Edge"

Whatever we want to call it, I did three more blades last night and I'm sold. We can argue all day about a name for or theories behind the practice, but the fact is MY edges are coming out better.

Originally Posted by BeJay

Whatever we want to call it, I did three more blades last night and I'm sold. We can argue all day about a name for or theories behind the practice, but the fact is MY edges are coming out better.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating (old saying I just made up) and if it works for you solid.

Originally Posted by BeJay

Whatever we want to call it, I did three more blades last night and I'm sold. We can argue all day about a name for or theories behind the practice, but the fact is MY edges are coming out better.

Well.....ATTA BOY, BeJay!!

Originally Posted by BeJay

Whatever we want to call it, I did three more blades last night and I'm sold. We can argue all day about a name for or theories behind the practice, but the fact is MY edges are coming out better.

That's what it's all about.

Never saw the Iwasaki video but I did try this technique a time or two and it worked great. Slight pressure on the side of the stone at 90 degrees and the microchips were gone. 20 or so edge-leading laps and the edge was golden. I don't use it every time (don't do many restorations) but yes, I will continue to use this when necessary.

Originally Posted by BeJay

Thanks for all the replies. I've experimented with five blades now and I can see that I'm consistently getting better results on the HHT. Hard to say if they are really shaving better then without jointing, but they have all shaved very well. I'm surprised by how little it takes to bring the edge back after lightly stroking it on the corner of a hone. I'm still just using the stone after the 1K, and my fingernail for the following stones. I think it's probably The fingernail at the higher grits that's making the difference on the HHT. I may keep this in my routine as it takes very little effort and it's yielding positive results.

Originally Posted by BeJay

Whatever we want to call it, I did three more blades last night and I'm sold. We can argue all day about a name for or theories behind the practice, but the fact is MY edges are coming out better.

And that is all that matters.


Have you done all of them as you described above? That is, did you join/joint on the 1k and then use your nail after higher grits? Have you considered doing one and not the other, and vice versa, to figure out which is contributing to the improvement?