Thread: Grind for beginner?

The simple answer is "You found your stone sell the others"

The complicated answer is "Practice makes perfect"

I say that because you mentioned multiple razors... Some razors excel on some stones in some hands...

I use a Coticule on Sheffield steel for my customers because that gets me the best responses from them...

Now does that mean I would get bad responses if I used a Coticule on say a NY brand extreme hollow??? Nope... But I know that taking those razors out on the Shaptons to a 30K finish gets me "Wow"

Same as I know taking the Hard Steel Solingens (Friodurs, ERN's, Re visor's, Wacker's just a few names there) is going to get me "Wow" when I use the Naniwas..

Or the Swedes on a CH12k

You also have to take into account the stones themselves, paired with the hands pushing them... everything I just said above, could change for a different person...

Softer Lower grit stones tend to be more forgiving to heavy hands, where as when you get into the 8k+ hard Synthetics and the higher grit Naturals you have to have a smooth light stroke. hence the practice makes perfect statement... You also have to take into account the Slurry action which softens your stroke try that on the Naniwas too and see what happens. (there is a whole thread about it)

You also have to take into account Personal preference in this whole thing, the stones action can account for a ton there, your personal choice of razors can too and of course your stroke...

You will notice that the more razors you hone, and the more stones you use, the more you will learn that there really is no best/smoothest/magical stone they are all just tools...

This is exactly why when I see broad stroke statements, I will usually say Whoa there, that isn't necessarily true for everyone...


Edit: I forgot the whole differences in Natural stones too, here read this thread it will explain it

http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...nese-hone.html

look at post #12 twice, you will see the same statement again, that I wrote above

[QUOTE=gssixgun;733127]
"I use a Coticule on Sheffield steel for my customers because that gets me the best responses from them...

Now does that mean I would get bad responses if I used a Coticule on say a NY brand extreme hollow??? Nope... But I know that taking those razors out on the Shaptons to a 30K finish gets me "Wow"

Same as I know taking the Hard Steel Solingens (Friodurs, ERN's, Re visor's, Wacker's just a few names there) is going to get me "Wow" when I use the Naniwas..

Or the Swedes on a CH12k"

Thanks, Glen. In a few short paragraphs you shared information on honing which must have taken years of experience to garner. I take my hat off to you. And, I can see that I will use the KISS principle for years to come.

[QUOTE=Qatsats;733140]

Originally Posted by gssixgun

"I use a Coticule on Sheffield steel for my customers because that gets me the best responses from them...

Now does that mean I would get bad responses if I used a Coticule on say a NY brand extreme hollow??? Nope... But I know that taking those razors out on the Shaptons to a 30K finish gets me "Wow"

Same as I know taking the Hard Steel Solingens (Friodurs, ERN's, Re visor's, Wacker's just a few names there) is going to get me "Wow" when I use the Naniwas..

Or the Swedes on a CH12k"

Thanks, Glen. In a few short paragraphs you shared information on honing which must have taken years of experience to garner. I take my hat off to you. And, I can see that I will use the KISS principle for years to come.

Your welcome, but please don't miss that last line there

You also have to take into account the stones themselves, paired with the hands pushing them... everything I just said above, could change for a different person...

It never ends my friend, find what works for you and play it out to the smooth conclusion

Also to bring this full circle, for a beginner to start learning to hone, I still believe learning to touch them up first is the easiest way to learn...