Thread: Questions about strops, pastes, and honing

Backhoning is typically performed on a hone to remove a wire edge. It can be used in other circumstances but that need not be discussed now.

The reason we use a backhoning stroke on an abrasive pasted paddle strop and a plain strop is to avoid cutting the leather in half. Its that simple.

Originally Posted by Tobico4

...still trying to achieve the HHT off the hone...making progress...thanks Tony.

My next question:

There seems to be a spilt between those who "back hone" and those who don't...but all seem to agree that pasted strops are okay...this begs the question:

...what is the difference between "back honeing" and using a pasted strop (other than the grits invoved)? Both involve moving the razor (edge trailing) across an abrasive surface.

The engineer in me is curious.

Dave

The debategoes on and on! I dont backhone! If Im not happy with the edge after honing a razor, I let the razor sit for a day or so and start over...pyramid followed by codicule than 60 strops...I used to use paste but after learning to hone and getting good at it, I found it easier and better and more consistent to touch up razor with 10 laps on norton 8000 and 10 laps on coticule...

Originally Posted by randydance062449

The reason we use a backhoning stroke on an abrasive pasted paddle strop and a plain strop is to avoid cutting the leather in half. Its that simple.

Okay, so if I use a .5 or .25 diamond paste on a cast iron lapping plate (which is how my tool room personnel use diamond paste) since I won't cut the lap...should I use an edge leading or edge trailing stroke?

Sorry to complicate things.

Dave

Either one is OK.

Originally Posted by Tobico4

Okay, so if I use a .5 or .25 diamond paste on a cast iron lapping plate (which is how my tool room personnel use diamond paste) since I won't cut the lap...should I use an edge leading or edge trailing stroke?

Sorry to complicate things.

Dave

Dave,
We have cast iron lapping plates in our shop as well. You do need to be careful of what was used on them before. Many shops use a dry or oil based diamond abrasive and roll them into the plates surface so they become embedded. If any coarse particles are already in the surface they will remain there and damage the razor.
I think I would make something from wood, balsa, etc... before goin that route if doing it myself.

Cast iron is used for lappping plates as it can be ground perfectly flat and it's porous surface holds abrasives very well. Kind of like balsa wood on steroids <g>.

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

Cast iron is used for lappping plates as it can be ground perfectly flat and it's porous surface holds abrasives very well. Kind of like balsa wood on steroids <g>.

Tony

Tony,

...Maybe you should offer a four sided paddle with a couple of cast iron sides

Dave