Thread: honing on small stones

My only problem with narrow hones is keeping the blade flat on the hone with little pressure. Make sure the edges are chamfered, in case you slip up like I do!

For grunt work I like bigger (8X3) hones, but for finishing I like shorter (6/5X3) hones. I feel I concentrate better with less real estate. Hone size preference is completely subjective, pick a size that works for you.

From personal experience, I find that using your index finger dead center of the spine works best. Using minimal pressure I can get a good feel for the hone and the blade. I usually do a few passes on each side and finish with a couple x strokes. Being a simple touch up from one of my small 5 or 6" x 1 1/8 hones. Try it, works for me. But again. All this is a learning process. Patience delivers. I'm sure you'll learn a lot from every hone. Part of the hobby right?

Originally Posted by TwistedOak

angle the razor at 45° to the stone AND do x strokes with small stones. I've found holding the stone in your open palm and the razor in the other it's a very comfortable way to use small hones (4"x1" size or similar)

I use this same method with my Crown barbers hone as a quick clean up unit I got my Naniwa 12k recently but still used when away on leave

I have the little 5x1 thuri and like the 45 deg x stroke or the 45 deg x swishing stroke as the let more of the blade contact the hone at once.