Thread: Getting to 11 with a hone

Why not just make the highest number a ten?

Oh, wow. I thought I was going to fall off the couch. Anyway, I can't do anything about your equipment. It took me 4 years to learn how to hone and I'm still probably not at an 11 yet on most days.

You've got to hone using no pressure at all. That should be a given if you're in the advance honing section and you should have a perfected stroke that allows for that.

Next, remember that honing an edge is simply sculpting a perfect bevel in steel. That requires a repeatedly perfect stroke of the exact angle and length down the hone on each side perfectly symmetrical to the other. No, you can't go a half an inch more on one side on a few strokes. The bevel sides won't be balanced. Its like making a pyramid or a triangle and making one side shorter and then still expecting the whole thing to end in a tight point. It won't.

Here is how I do it . . .

So if your sitting at a 10 I would do some circular honing to get things set. Use a piece of paper and draw two lines on it to represent your turn points on the hone, put the paper under the hone, then start honing on the highest grit you have using this perfect x pattern stroke. Flip exactly over the lines. Never short of the line, and never long of the line. Right on the line. Don't just use any old x pattern, use a pattern that will ensure equal honing from point to heel. Make certain the scales are positioned so the lift the weight of the razor off the edge. If the scales are too far forward (closed) they will crush the edge with their weight on the stone. You could be using no pressure on the blade and the scales are scraping the edge into the hone like a damn bulldozer.

That'll take you to a 10.5 for now. The next step will scare you a bit but here goes.

Get your finger positioned under the shank and start using lifting pressure slightly on the razor as you complete the last few strokes. Use less than the weight of the blade. You're shooting for about 1/2 the weight of the blade. The strokes should feel light and airy. You have to keep the razor on the hone. You're just lifting it so the weight of the razor is not crashing down on the hone.

This will take practice so be patient. But this is one path to becoming really good at honing. Not just like, shaving edge good, but I mean like an expert. Use lots of strokes until the edge is the way you want it.

Oh, yea, and have fun.