Thread: A logical progression for learning to hone

Dean65's post brings back the memory of my learning to sharpen chisels and gouges for gun building. These are English and Swiss tools meant to hold a razor-like edge. The wood in this case, sugar maple, should be cut cleanly and not tear. The fresh cut should literally shine.

I struggled with sharpening. My problems were two fold: The wrong stones and poor technique. A man who lives near me who builds flintlock shotguns took an hour and showed me the correct methods for sharpening. It wasn't difficult to learn and the difference was striking.

I've never honed a razor and I'm stropping at a snail's pace still, but I see honing as something to be approached with necessary caution that anything new comes with. Speed comes with experience.

Originally Posted by gugi

Lots of responses and at the core they're all pretty similar.

There are really only two simple things to learn
(1) the motion itself i.e. uniform and consistent strokes of flat razor with no pressure
(2) when to stop, and if applicable move to the next grit

You have to learn both to be successful and there are plenty of approaches to it. The easiest way is Norton pyramids as a touch up of a previously honed blade - the equipment and the method is very consistent, so the only variable is the motion. If the Norton is too expensive a barbers hone should be almost as good for the task at hand.
Then to actually progress beyond maintenance to honing, you'll have to expand to the lower grits, and that's just addressing point (2) as presumably one is already proficient with (1).

There will always people who like to make it unnecessarily much harder than it should be, but that's just how it is - some value the satisfaction of accomplishment, others pragmatism.

That is a sweet post! Well done!