Thread: How do you assess and use feedback from a stone?

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

Thanks guys, great input.

Do any of you find the sound of the blade on the hone beneficial?

Unless there's something really wrong, like grit contamination, the sound a hone makes doesn't tell me anything.

Bart.

Well, I am able to feel if something is not right. But I cannot really tell by feel or sound whether the edge is "there". Although on some hones there can be, as someone already mentioned, a suction-type feel. But really, all that tells me is the bevel is as flat as my hone - has no direct info. (as far as I am aware) about whether the two sides of the bevel are meeting at a nice point or not. But I suppose if you combine that feel with the knowledge that you've gotten your edge close on a previous grit, there may be something in that.

But it is an interesting question. I bet people would be able to tell what hone they are using (of their own hones, I mean) in a blindfold test. I reckon I could. Each type has a very different feel to it.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Well, I am able to feel if something is not right. But I cannot really tell by feel or sound whether the edge is "there". Although on some hones there can be, as someone already mentioned, a suction-type feel. But really, all that tells me is the bevel is as flat as my hone - has no direct info. (as far as I am aware) about whether the two sides of the bevel are meeting at a nice point or not. But I suppose if you combine that feel with the knowledge that you've gotten your edge close on a previous grit, there may be something in that.

But it is an interesting question. I bet people would be able to tell what hone they are using (of their own hones, I mean) in a blindfold test. I reckon I could. Each type has a very different feel to it.

James.

The only sound I recognize is that unpleasant high-pitched *grinch* sound the razor makes when there is a foreign body on the stone or in the slurry. It makes me wince when I hear that.

As far as blindfold guessing: I know I could. But then again I mostly use a combo coticule, DMT's and Spyderco's...talk about a night and day difference!

Originally Posted by Jimbo

But it is an interesting question. I bet people would be able to tell what hone they are using (of their own hones, I mean) in a blindfold test. I reckon I could. Each type has a very different feel to it.

James.

I'd wager that most guys could tell a Coticule apart from a Thuringer by feel alone, not to mention a Nakayama, if they had used one or two of each previously. But between different stones of the same type, that'd be a challenge.

I tend to use the sound that a hone makes when I make a relative grit comparison between various stones, more sound usually equals coarser grit.

Originally Posted by English

I get a clear resistance feeling, a vacuum sucking down type feeling when the blade is honed to the optimum.

Same here. Although with razors that have very narrow bevels, it's hard to feel it.

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

Do any of you find the sound of the blade on the hone beneficial?

You know, I do. I find that the sound of the blade on stone changes significantly enough for me to hear the difference when the blade gets enough work on a stone to warrant moving to a higher grit. This is all without errant grit mind you. It seems like the sound gets softer, smoother, or even more pleasant as the blade gets sharper on a stone. I know I'm not the only guy who listens for it. I think Howard does too. Mind you I don't base my honing on the sound alone, but I use it as a part of the whole "feel" process of assessment.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

You know, I do. I find that the sound of the blade on stone changes significantly enough for me to hear the difference when the blade gets enough work on a stone to warrant moving to a higher grit. This is all without errant grit mind you. It seems like the sound gets softer, smoother, or even more pleasant as the blade gets sharper on a stone. I know I'm not the only guy who listens for it. I think Howard does too. Mind you I don't base my honing on the sound alone, but I use it as a part of the whole "feel" process of assessment.

Well Alex, I'm not surprised about that. After all, being a superb bass player, makes you a trained professional listener. I've met more than one bass player that has the ability to distinguish very small changes in pitch, harmonics and overall sonority. Most other mortals don't, he added just a tad envious...

Bart.

In addition to feel, sound, and smell, I use a mind trick a stamp collector told me. He said that when someone wants to remove a stamp from an envelope, he must think of removing the envelope from the stamp. It works. I have removed stamps, decals, labels, and tape from things easier if I thought of removing the OBJECT from the stamp, decals, or tape instead of removing the stamp, decal, tape, etc. Is this a form of Zen?...I consider the surface of the hone moving against the blade, not the blade moving against the surface of the hone, and exactly what is happening where blade and hone make contact. My smiling blades demand this technique. All depends on what mood I am in. Honing to me is a profound experience. I am grateful that I do not have to rush getting it done. I watched a barber hone a razor. He did it so fast that it looked dangerous! Time is money for him. Thankfully honing is just a deep satisfying accomplishment in my world.

Now that's a unique approach!

I too enjoy the experience of honing, something strangely soothing about the repetition and concentration of the whole thing.

BTW, nice dog Timberr!

Originally Posted by timberrr59

In addition to feel, sound, and smell, I use a mind trick a stamp collector told me. He said that when someone wants to remove a stamp from an envelope, he must think of removing the envelope from the stamp. It works. I have removed stamps, decals, labels, and tape from things easier if I thought of removing the OBJECT from the stamp, decals, or tape instead of removing the stamp, decal, tape, etc. Is this a form of Zen?...I consider the surface of the hone moving against the blade, not the blade moving against the surface of the hone, and exactly what is happening where blade and hone make contact. My smiling blades demand this technique. All depends on what mood I am in. Honing to me is a profound experience. I am grateful that I do not have to rush getting it done. I watched a barber hone a razor. He did it so fast that it looked dangerous! Time is money for him. Thankfully honing is just a deep satisfying accomplishment in my world.

Amen brother, amen.