Thread: honing with a Shapton

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

Wow, 10 superlight strokes and done. Glen and Lynn, do you ever just do a couple more and check again or is that too risky? I don't have this stone, I'm just asking. That's what I tend to do in the final stages of honing. When I think I'm done I try a couple more and check. Sometimes the edge improves and then I keep going. Maybe one cannot do that with this hone. Something to keep in mind if I ever get one.

Michael

For me, I am pretty conservative I honestly believe that the numbers I put out there all the time are dead on ie:

90% of honing happens at the bevel set (1k)
9% more happens at the Sharpening and Polishing stage (4k-8K)
1% happens after the 8k stage yet this is what we talk about and argue about the most on every shave forum and many threads..

(All grit ratings are only there for reference and really mean very little)

Once the bevel is set, really the razor can shave, and if you did the bevel well without cutting it up too deep, then every other following stone should have minimal amounts of strokes..

As to your actual question yes many times I might add strokes but I don't "Go back" to them, the more razors you hone the more you get a feel for where the edge is at, I am always looking for a certain "feel" to the last stokes on each stone I am using regardless of the grit...

This is one of the reasons I love using a dedicated bevel setter I can get a feel for the razor right from the beginnig, which helps me move them along whatever progression I choose for that razor based on how it sets on the bevel..