Thread: back and forth honing

So i just picked up a DGLP and 1k Shapton stone from Howard. In the purchase I decided to get his DVD on sharpening. I found it interesting in the way that Harrelson Stanley from Shapton honed the razors.

Instead of a 90 or 45 degree angle he holds the razor at about a 20 degree angle...where the blade is almost perpendicular to the stone. His honing technique was also interesting in something that Livi does as well. Instead of a traditional pass he does a back and forth motion (imagine coloring with a crayon back and forth)

Just wondering if anyone else had used this technique. I might give it a go on one of my junkers. Im really excited to have my DGLP. Scrubbing the swarf off with a nylon brush wasnt cutting it anymore.

it is fine tech until you get the final touch. what that person is doing taking out wire edge if any by doing back strokes.

have you seen the DVD?

He basically did the type of stroke the whole way through. He wasnt doing it to take out a wire edge. From start to finish, he used a back and forth method. He even bread knifed at 16k.

Its a very interesting video.....Im kinda shocked to be honest how often he goes to the DGLP. Im like so pumped to hone right now..haha. I have 6 blades that have been waiting for the plate to come in so I could have clean stones.

I will tell you this...I would love to barter with Mr. Stanley...Ill show him how to shave..and he can show me how to hone with his system.

He was really struggling with his shave..but takes some guts first time shaving on camera no less..haha

The back and forth, or paint brush is also referred to as Japanese Style too and is a very old technique...

I use it along with circles for corrective honing on restores... you can get different results by adjusting the length of the stroke too and the heel angle to the stone..

I tried the actual technique that is demonstrated in that video after Jimmy lent it to me but I have never worked it enough, to get the results I want...

By doing that he avoids any bur formation. when he does bread knifing he puts zero pressure and removes very small peaces from the edge.( you will have them until you get "v " edge)
i agree with this method all way until final touch.
I think if you hone blade correct after forming V edge there is no reason to bread knifing. nothing remove anymore?
you can see how his method works efficiently while you hone smiling blades . end of the smile always has very small peaces attached to the edge. you do bread knifing and remove it. then you continue hone and it forms again etc you bread knife until that point is gets v shape .

I should add i haven't watch the video but have conversation about his method with Jimmy.

I have been doing this for a while... but like sham said, I like it only up until I am trying to finish. After some back and forths to do most of the work, I always go through about 10-15 20 laps with an x stroke (this is on my bbw coticule combo FWIW)

Issac, I have honed a couple of razors following Harrelson's method on the DVD. Here is a post on the topic.

I use barts halve stroke on coticule and it great for speed to get bevel back. I brought the dvd and watched it several times but i have to say i did'nt fancy the using the method my self and i stick to the usaul x pattern along with circles / halve stroke only when needed. The actual shaving demo by howard him selve surprised me it did'nt look very nice with the amount of blood he was creating if i shaved my customers like that they'd never come back. Even though thats what happens when you shave against the grain in some cases depending on your skin.

I've always used a back & forth stroke for rapid metal removal. It's primarily because i'm a lazy b@stard. I was very pleased when i did eventually find out that it was an acceptable technique!

The important things to remember are that you must be aware of what's happening to the steel, as it happens fairly fast, & also that the more conventional stroke, with the flip must be employed as the razor nears readiness.

Bart's video shows him doing it incredibly fast. Don't try to match that just yet!
As Glen mentions, circles work very well & provide continuous movement over the hone. That speeds things up too.

You might find Bart's video useful. It's fun to watch anyway YouTube - Belgian Blue Whetstone honing