Thread: Just cant get razor sharp following Lynns video at all

It's a good video on honing.

You have been given great advice here.

Take it or leave it, your choice.

Honing is not paint by numbers as in do X number of this stroke and then X number of that stroke and you are done. Each razor is a bit different in what and how it needs to be honed. At first you will have difficulty assessing what that is.

You need a loupe and strong light source to see what you are doing to the edge and the hard part of that in the beginning is that you are not exactly sure what you are looking for. That is the way it was for me. You could use a black marker on the bevel and that will show you where you are missing bits on the edge.

All in all it can/is a very frustrating experience when you try to learn on your own how to hone. I did it that way and know how frustrating it is.

All that is why the advice to get together with a member for some one on one honing instruct is so valid. Placing your location in your profile will make it easier for a member to help you that way. Also the advice to leave it alone till you do not feel frustrated is solid. By repeating the same thing over and over again you will get the same crappy results. Unless you or a mentor can figure out what you are doing wrong you will not make much progress.

Bob

ok i see. Can i wear out my razor quick this way setting new bevels and practicing? also still im wondering why lynn uses circles method

Originally Posted by Jamesalot23

ok i see. Can i wear out my razor quick this way setting new bevels and practicing? also still im wondering why lynn uses circles method

Yes you can wear it out, tape the spine. The circles speed up the process

If you can't get the bevel set that means you are not torquing the blade enough and are honing above the edge.
When you do not torque but apply pressure you are honing the spine more than needed. Try and produce a slight twist towards the edge and see how that changes your results.

Originally Posted by mainaman

If you can't get the bevel set that means you are not torquing the blade enough and are honing above the edge.
When you do not torque but apply pressure you are honing the spine more than needed. Try and produce a slight twist towards the edge and see how that changes your results.

Thanks, i was not aware of that, will try, and report back tomorow

Send it out as others have advised.
If you have been performing circles and pressure then I would say your bevel now had high spots and uneven ware.
Probably a better idea to stick to X' s or straight strokes watching the water and how the edge pushes it along.
I made many a bevel wonky using pressure and circles in the beginning of my journey to Lord King Honemeister

Originally Posted by Jamesalot23

ok i see. Can i wear out my razor quick this way setting new bevels and practicing? also still im wondering why lynn uses circles method

Yep! This why I recommend using a Gold Dollar learning to hone. Don’t use a new razor or a quality vintage razor to learn. Who really wants to use a good $30.00 Sheffield only to have it seriously fouled up by learning to hone?

Circles are used as an efficient, quick way to remove metal to set the bevel plane. Nothing magical about circles. Half strokes work just as well.

Let me add: Is Lynn’s video the only video you have watched? He is a great master and teacher, but not the only one. (No disrespect intended). I started this journey just over two years ago. No mentors, no meet ups. Just a determination to learn. I spent hours watching videos and reading; here and elsewhere. Get the right tools. There are tools for “doing” and tools for “practicing”. Don’t foul up a good tool because you are practicing.

Besides videos there is also a lot of info on the older threads here. I usually find them via google search and then just dive in. E.g. http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...d-bevel-3.html, post #29, http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...ave-ready.html etc. I have found Euclid440's posts to be some of them most detailed. He walks you through the process and has pics. One pic is worth a thousand words
Also please go back and re read threads as time goes by. Things that didnt make too much sense initially suddenly do.

first times honing will have pitfalls, its just the learning curve, and Lynn doing circles is cause he can and speeds up the process, as a new honer you should be going slow, and as mentioned put ypour location in your profile, maybe someone close can help maybe in few months you can do it. by the way a great hone guy once said " honing is easy till it aint" Tc