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

I find with natural stones if the stone is highly polished there is to tactile feel as you hone to tell you what is happening but with my coticule which is not really polished vs my vintage escher which is if you use a really light touch on the hone you can detect a change as the blade hones up. Its subtle but its there. if you apply any pressure you lose it though.

Funny you should mention smell. being a rockhound from way back, all natural rocks have a particular smell depending on their makeup. Some are very strong earth smells and some not so much and some entirely different. Usually the more porous the rock the more it smells. Clay minerals seem to smell the most. What does this have to do with honing? Nothing really.