Thread: Alternatives to stone hones?

I have seen on youtube some people that are using lapping film and a peace of glass for honi g and I was wondering if this is an acceptable practice and if lapping compound can be used fkr honing?

I know that plenty of people use or have used lapping film to hone with.

It is certainly an option. It depends on your views, lapping film is inexpensive compared to hones. Hones you theoretical buy once and that is it. Lapping film is a consumable. I have no idea how much lapping film you would need to buy to equal the cost of hones, a lot I'm sure.

Originally Posted by Dadygoble

I have seen on youtube some people that are using lapping film and a peace of glass for honi g and I was wondering if this is an acceptable practice and if lapping compound can be used fkr honing?

Lapping compound I am not aware of being used for honing. It is common for CrO or Cerium Oxide od diamond spray to be used for stropping after honing and for edge maintenance. A lot of people use lapping film for honing.

If you are talking of pastes after lower grit bevel building, say 4k, that can be done by stopping on pasted paddles but isn't that common for people on this site to do that although did hear someone once mention this is more common in Europe. You should be able to find plenty of info on both methods using the search

While lapping film can be used in place of a stones and give as good an edge, I believe it would be easier to lean to hone on synthetic stones then transition to film.

Synthetic stones are fool proof and relatively inexpensive, really you only need 2 stones, 1k and a 4/8k.

Where film falls down is in bevel setting. I routinely use a Chosera 1k to bevel set then finish on 3 and 1um AO film with excellent results. I have bevel set on 5um film but the 1k is much easier, especially if repairs, re-shaping and or chip removal are required.

While in theory one could “hone” with paste, the problem again is with repairs…and, one must learn to strop well… first.

There is no question a properly honed razor can be maintained, indefinitely with paste, linen and leather.

First learn to shave, then hone on quality synthetic stones, then experiment.

It's amazing the things you can use to hone a blade or sharpen a knife. Coffee cups, your cars window for example... but it doesn't mean they are the best things to use.

With respect to film, I know many sing its virtues. I personally found it incredibly frustrating. The main reason I had issues with film was pressure. When you wish to apply pressure, you run the risk of the film moving and or tearing.


I still have some - maybe I should give it another try.

Originally Posted by earcutter

With respect to film, I know many sing its virtues. I personally found it incredibly frustrating. The main reason I had issues with film was pressure. When you wish to apply pressure, you run the risk of the film moving and or tearing.
.

+1

For the upper end of honing I found no issues with it with easy razors.. I was not at all impressed with the results on smiling Sheffield razors..

I feel it falls into that old axiom of honing, "Honing is pretty easy, right up until it isn't"


Edit: To be perfectly honest, maybe I wasn't willing to invest the time to figure out a way to work around problem razors using the film, when a Chosera 1k does it with ease..

Originally Posted by gssixgun

+1

For the upper end of honing I found no issues with it with easy razors.. I was not at all impressed with the results on smiling Sheffield razors..

I feel it falls into that old axiom of honing, "Honing is pretty easy, right up until it isn't"


Edit: To be perfectly honest, maybe I wasn't willing to invest the time to figure out a way to work around problem razors using the film, when a Chosera 1k does it with ease..

You make due with what you have and what you can afford. Doesn't mean riding your bike to the grocery store to pick up a weeks worth of food for a family of four is a good idea lol - though, you know, people do it. It's whatever .

Thank you guys. I guess its a preferance thing. I could probubly swing a norton 4k/8k off the web on a budget I was considering the film because it is realy cheap compared to stones.