Thread: honing with a Shapton

Thanks Lynn. The other thanks that went below your message was for gssixgun.

Donald

I tried gssixguns and Lynn's suggestion on a Puma that came yesterday. The edge met gssixguns criteria of being
"shave ready". I took the 10 passes that Lynn recommended. I am really new at all of this, but the shave this morning
was the best so far. Of course, it was a Puma already well sharpened. It's not like I turned a table knife into the
best shaver ever. That project will have to wait for awhile. Thanks again guys!!

Donald

In my experience, owning only the Norton 4/8 and Shapton 16k like you do now, and being pretty new to honing myself, I've found what Lynn and Glen says to be absolutely true. The only time I do more than 20 laps on the 16k is when honing harder Swedish steel. It's so convenient, too, with no need to soak. I find I can keep my razors shave ready with just 10 laps on the Shapton maybe every month.

Shapton are my favorite hones. Can't add anything to the above except to agree. One thing though, being thin as they are I find they're much harder NOT to drop. I think I try to handle them too carefully, and luckily it's just been a few inches, but these are the only hones I have ever dropped!! Happened this morning, again!! No damage!

Regards,

Howard

Thanks for the tip about Swedish steel. I have a number of Swedish framebacks and even a Japanese Frameback with "Best Swedish Steel" stamped on the blade; great
razor. Got it from Stefan here on the list. Thanks again Stefan.

Donald

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

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..