Honing lesson by a pro

I am the first to admit I am a slow learner. I watched all the video's on honing and when I couldn't get the results I wanted, I was going to sell my Jnat. See picture. I watched Mastro Livi achieve amazing edges with little or no effort. My wife had a high school friend stop by with her husband and I was showing him my razors and stones. I told him my problem with natural stones and off we went to the garage. I took out the Jnat, raised a slurry and started to hone. He shook his head and said let me show you how to do this. He took my vintage revisor and did back and forth, weight of the razor laps diagonally across the stone. He watered down the slurry a total of 4 times doing 15 laps. Felt the edge, ran over his thumb nail and said try it. Amazing it was the sharpest I have seen a razor and shaved dry smooth as can be. He had me try it with another razor and stopped me. I was told my strokes were to long. 3-4" is enough. Took the Japanese razor and he walked me through it like he did. Perfect edge. We should have more group meetings so guys like me can learn from more experienced honers.Attachment 248686

I would attend one if the t was a reasonable distance away.

I don't think the length of the stokes matters, and I don't use back and forth strokes if that means spine leading plus edge leading though I do start of with circles on each stone in a progression, finishing with x-strokes, flipping the blade every stroke.

To me, finishing is more about even (and light) pressure all along the bevel. Since few razor edges are really straight, maintaining even contact with the hone to the last millimeter of the toe and heel takes some practice. Almost any stroke you can use that will maintain the proper amount of even pressure will work fine.

Cheers, Steve

Actually in my experience the stroke length can make a difference, albeit not a huge one. It's more of an issue on larger hones - on a fast hone longer strokes can actually start to raise a small wire edge in a single long stroke. So if you want to chase the perfect edge, short stroke length at the very end is another play in the book. It's not always necessary of course, but with some faster finishers it can add a bit to the finished edge quality.

So, true, you just can’t beat hands on. What a lot of guy have told me is, it is the little things, that you don’t get in a video or a blog post, that make a big difference.

Technique, is technique and there is no, one method that works for everyone. It is all about pressure, how much and when to apply it. Start with pressure, then lighten up the pressure as the stones get finer, generally.

Slurries are a whole other kettle of fish. They can and will vary, depending on the stone and razor, thinning and knowing when to thin, is key. With experience, one can learn to “Feel” the changes of the blade on the stone.

Until you learn to feel, which can take years, depending on how much you hone, use your eyes. Learn a technique, that works for you, then perfect it.

You are right, you can’t beat hands on for learning.

You didn't know he knew how to hone? What a stroke of luck for you, nothing but nothing beats hands on experience.

Awesome, but I'm confused about he ran it over this thumb nail and then you shaved with it?

Probably removed the fine burr, with a very light touch. Or maybe he was feeling for a micro-chip. There’s that pressure thing… again.

Hard to say, his level of experience, but sounds like, he knew his way around a Jnat. Also, sounds like the OP’s razors were close, to begin with.

I have seen old guys hone with techniques and stones, that everybody says won’t work or will ruin a razor. But they make it work, and work well. Look at Livi’s, razor slapping technique, (though I think a lot of it is for show), either way, works for him.

Sounds like he took the fine edge down a notch with his thumb nail and then taught him how to put it back :<0)

2 months of struggle can disappear with an hours worth of hands on teaching. Video doesn't stop and say " NO, not like that. "

I should have mentioned when he very lightly ran the blade over his nail he was feeling the edge for nicks and how smoothly it went across the nail. Said he can feel if it isn't sharp enough by the resistance he feels. He mentioned that it would also take any flashing off. I am sure if I gave him my 40 power glass that might have helped. He told me the next time he comes he'll show me the right way to get the most out of my Escher. The right technique and experience makes a world of difference.

There are a few guys that use the thumb nails test. Most say they put it back on the hone a little after that because too much pressure will take the edge down a notch. I tried that test a few times and the feeling on my thumbnail is like the 1 you get when somebody runs their fingernails down a chalk board. If you develop that test with success good for you. What ever works best for you is best. Just remember what I said down the road if all of a sudden you can't get the edge you want. I use the thumb pad test and then arm hair. If my thumb is too dry the edge doesn't quite stick like it normally would. Lots of little things experience will teach you over and over again.

I'll hold a meet in your honor if you stop by my place :<0)

I have found that thumb nail tests are fine on the lower grits.
But after a finishing hone it does reverse the desired effects..
There must be a level of light touch that I have not discovered yet.