Thread: How many passes on the naniwa stones

Originally Posted by mainaman

As you go up the grits the number of passes should be decreasing not increasing.
How do you monitor the progress of your honing?

Are you sure? Shouldn't that be increasing? It takes more strokes on a high grit stone to get rid of the scratches that a few strokes on a coarser hone produce.

That is how I have always interpreted the explanation of the pyramid scheme.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...d_honing_guide

Originally Posted by Kees

Are you sure? Shouldn't that be increasing? It takes a more strokes on a high grit stone to get rid of the scratches that a few strokes on a coarser hone produce.

That is how I have always interpreted the explanation of the pyramid scheme.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...d_honing_guide

I do not see the connection here. Pyramids were meant to dial in the edge by going back and forth. With a progression that happens as one goes up the grit levels.
By the time one gets to the 12k stone there is very shallow scratch pattern to remove, provided the razor was properly honed on the lower grit hones.
Counting strokes is just not the most optimal way to go because not all razors are identical.

Whether you do a pyramid or not, as soon as you move up the grit ladder you effectively replace a coarser scratch pattern with a finer one to refine the edge. A few strokes on a coarser hone can leave relatively deep scratches that take more strokes on a finer hone to smooth them out IMHO. At least that is my experience and the way I finish my edges.

YMMV.

I followed Lynn's method with naniwas. Bevel to finish and just ten strokes 8 k followed by the same on 12 k and I can tell you now you won't be far of if done correctly . If I,m just of I will repeat ten 8 k same on 12 k . Repeat until I,m ��

Once I,m good to go at 12 k level then I will add 5 strokes on chromium oxide.

The short answer is as many as it takes. Shave test and see.

Thank you to everyone that has applied.

A wealth of knowledge on this forum