Thread: How can you tell if you are over honing?

The title says it all.

When you run out of blade!!!

You probably should have posted this in the honing section of the forum.

In theory, over-honing will result in a wire edge. In practice, I never have been able to produce or see one on a straight razor. I know others have seen them, but I never have.

Over-honing can also lead to a fragile edge. Mainly on synthetics, if you do too many strokes on the higher grits (like 8k and above) you can end up with a fragile edge that degrades very quickly.

Because she tells you off. Stops making you hot drinks and food. And starts hiding kitchen knives because she cuts herself every time she cooks, Because apparently kitchen knives do not make a good practice medium.

i get over honed (wire edge) razors all the time on certain ones. still figuring out how to avoid it.

Well,,,,,,
When you find yourself no longer cruising the classified section or Ebay for exotic hones.
When you would rather spend your free time with the brushes.
When your sleep is not interrupted by dreams of endless grit progressions & slurried sheets.

Then your pretty much over honing,,,,

Dude, you're crushing my slurry

I think over honing is what Utopian said. Creating a wire edge that feels very jagged and uncomfortable when shaving after that wire breaks off. I've done it a bunch of times using barber hones with way too many strokes..

When you are focusing on one side of the blade only with hundreds of strokes, then do one X and try to shave. A wire edge is created on that side (felt on the other), thus overhoning.
Don't worry about it. It's not "probably overhoning" the answer to most honing related problems.

The biggest indicated for me is that I have been honing using a 13K Sigma II. Other than that it is not usually a problem. It is often indicated with a fuzzy edge when inspecting with a loupe and a harsh, prickly shave during the shave test. It is also called micro chipping.