Thread: overhone

has anyone notice norton 8k more prone to over hone then rest final finish hones?including all synthetic hones?
or it is just me?

I've only overhoned once, and that was on the Norton 4/8K.
Might've just been inexperience though.

I overhoned on Shapton 8k once, I have no experience with Nortons.

How do you identify overhoning?

It will happen, the N8K is a fast cutter, and when those bevels meet, the steel has no where to go but up. It may be a good thing, now you know the stone has done its job... and then some.

I have long ago given up "seeking-up" on the edge, when it gets over honed I know 99% on that job is done and the perfect edge is just a few passes after removing the wire... works every time.

Originally Posted by kevint

How do you identify overhoning?

Overhoning is when a bur or wire edge is formed. It's a really thin bit of metal right at the edge that no longer forms a perfect "V" but instead curls over. I think the most likely way you would identify it is by repeatedly checking the sharpness of the edge by the thumb pad test as you hone and suddenly rather than the edge getting sharper, it instead feels dull. That is because the "V" has become very slightly a "V" with a "J" at its apex.

The only times I have ever overhoned a razor was with the norton 8k. None of my various barber hones or naturals do that to me.

If I ever use my Norton (which is to say...never) I do 5 forward passes and 1-3 backhone passes as a matter of course to dodge that bullet.

my thoughts were these on ID- as we hone up and down the stone

any turned bur will be cut- perhaps incompletely, but cut/partially removed at least.

Unlikely to be seen with the naked eye maybe even undetected by feel tests. Unless the lighting is just right it will be unseen with magnification.

It is detected when we shave as - harsh and prickly, too sharp.

I think these descriptions are elements of a small incomplete fold over bur, aka wire edge. After the edge is honed on a slow cutter to create smoothness the bur is removed.

As well unless one is shaving directly off the hone such is largely undetected unless the strop is only partially removing the FOB.

It is very unlikely that any hone will create a large complete wire edge, but any hone, even the finest should be capable of producing a very small one eventually.

When your technique, and edge are in near perfect alignment a FOB could be cut and removed with a complete up and down stroke theoretically speaking