Thread: Honing question

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

LOL, ain't so easy is it? Well at least you had a loop to see with. Imagine just tearing away without thought.

Thats how I've always done it.

So if the razor feels like its having trouble going through the thicker hairs and it's sticking to them and pulling on them, would that mean I need to refine more at the 1k or 2-6k? I'm thinking it should be able to chop them all easily by the time i finish the 1k. Right?

It is a gradual progression through the stages, at the bevel set if it cuts hair from heel to toe at all yer good to go...
The sharpening stage should smooth that up, then the polishing stage gets you to a smooth comfortable shaving level... The finishing stage is not/should not be needed, we all just like to see just what is possible

That last statement in my post is what you are talking about here and what we all agree on ... "When am I done with this stage", and "When am I ready to move up".. We can all give hints and tips but really that comes from doing it and struggling through it...

"The biggest challenge in honing a Straight Razor is knowing when and where you are as you are climbing this ladder"

That is exactly what I meant there

When you say it should cut hair at 1k, do you mean cutting a "hanging hair?"

Forget the HHT "hanging hair", at 1k it should easily shave arm hair, as a matter of fact you should be able to skim the razor just above the skin and get them to pop.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

"The biggest challenge in honing a Straight Razor is knowing when and where you are as you are climbing this ladder"

HUGE +1

It took me forever to figure out when I was done with a stone and when to move on to the next one. Something that would have helped immensely would have been honing with a mentor so that I could feel and test blades as someone experienced worked through them. Instead I just failed a lot, and got lucky every now and then. As time went on I found tests that work for me to know where I'm at. Find a mentor if you can. If you can't, just keep plugging away. It gets easier with practice.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

"The biggest challenge in honing a Straight Razor is knowing when and where you are as you are climbing this ladder"

My honing has greatly improved since I watched Glen's one stone hone video. I now spend most of my time on the 1k (till it pops hairs) then straight to the 8k. My blades are now sharper than ever and I can do it in a fraction of the time it use to take me.

Originally Posted by TheZ

When you say it should cut hair at 1k, do you mean cutting a "hanging hair?"

I can shave off the 1k but some of the thicker hairs on my chin don't cut as easy. The razer sticks to them and pulls on them. Maybe it's just my shaving technique. My thin arm hairs pop off like nothing.

The OP has decided that he no longer wants to post on SRP so I am locking these threads for lack of participation on his part...