Thread: Finishing strokes: when, with what and how many?

The purpose of this thread is to gather a sample from this forum regarding finishing strokes. I think that newbies could really benefit from the proven techniques used by the experienced members to hone a shave-ready edge. This is not about regular bevel setting, but rather focused on the final strokes that make all the difference.

Years ago, when I began this obsession, I was getting poor results and became quite discouraged. Fortunately, I had a granddad who was certainly a honemeister before the term was in use (God rest his soul). Watching his buttery technique on a coticule confirmed that I was pressing much harder than his delicate touch. This realization took me to the next level. I started using extremely, light finishing touches resulting in a level of sharpness and performance never before realized.

Finishing strokes are second only to leather stropping for determining the final quality of a SR edge.

Here is when, with what, and how many finishing strokes I use before proceeding to the leather. Perhaps subsequent respondents to this thread will use the same format to keep the sampling organized.


FINISHING STROKE TECHNIQUE

WHEN:
I usually start a few extremely light (less than the blade weight by supporting the razor) X-pattern stropping strokes at the end of my regular edge-leading, honing strokes on the 4K, and continue this practice with the 8K, and 12K stones.

WITH WHAT:
While I do start the finishing process with the stones, the final finisher for me is CrO on balsa. I have an extra long (12x3x3 inch) balsa block that has been leveled with sand paper on a certified granite plate (probably overkill). The large block allows me to easily hold it in the air; once again to apply LESS than blade weight to each stroke. My finishing strokes are very consistent X-pattern with a few heel and toe specific strokes.

HOW MANY:
Many have stated on this forum how difficult it is to OVER hone a razor and this would also apply to finishing strokes. In fact, I think most newbies are not doing enough because they think that a stroke so light must not be doing much. Here is my typical finishing progression. These are NOT honing strokes. Regular honing strokes are performed between these steps. You may use less or none of these with the pyramid approach.

4k stone - 6-8 stropping laps

8k stone - 10-12 stropping laps

12k stone - 12-15 stropping laps

CrO balsa - 20-30 EXTREMELY LIGHT stropping laps

Leather - 60-100 EXTREMELY LIGHT stropping laps

My final advice to newbies is "less is more". Practice getting lighter and more delicate with your touch especially when going for that ultimate finish and you will be rewarded as I was so many years ago. I hope this thread real reveal a common theme and practice among the more experienced members. Good luck.

Am I correct here....are you doing edge leading strokes on the 4k, and then 6-8 back honing strokes? Then you move to the 8k, and do forward honing strokes, followed by 10-12 back honing strokes? And so on and so forth? On each stone, before moving to the next, you finish with back honing strokes?

In my mind, "finishing" strokes are the very last ones on the last hone. IE: on my 12k, or Coti, or Escher, or Charnely, etc. A paste may be subsequently applied, but that depends significantly on the manufacturer and country. Ie: I find some Sheffield's like CrOx, and some American's really like Cerium, but not everyone all the time. YMMV.

I end each stone with 5-10 super light X strokes before I move to the next stone. Then the "finishing" comes on the last stone.

With me it sort of depends. I tend to probably do more than I need. OTOH, I have been doing less and testing rather than more under the blind assumption that I need more. In the case that the razor is not as keen as I want it to be I go back to the hones. I never use paste or spray anymore. Just a personal preference. I've got all that stuff, and my preference isn't 'carved in stone,' so I can't say I won't someday go back to them, but for the foreseeable future, it is the 1k chosera if necessary, 4k single grit norton, 8k single grit norton. Test and shave. If the edge is better than good it is on to an escher 90% of the time or a coticule the other 10% of the time. Depends on my mood.

I used to stick with pyramids but lately have been doing Lynn's circle technique on the chosera and the nortons. Always x strokes on the escher or the coticule. Pressure varies depending on the stage of the game and the grind of the razor but I do agree that light to no pressure at the finishing stages is the way to go. I follow the hone by stropping on leather only and then do HHT with greasy old fine hairs (all I've got) from my hairbrush for the test. When it pops them from heel to point I'm done and I shave. I will try your backstroke technique. I guess in doing circles that is inclusive but I hadn't ever done that beyond doing 'back and forth' strokes when setting bevels. Always interesting for an old dog to try new tricks. Thanks for the post.

For me finishing strokes are just plain old light touch x strokes, often heel-leading 45 degrees or so, on a fine stone. A lot of work has gone into the edge before that, of course. But I tend to keep it fairly simple at the end.

James.

I pick up my standard stone progression and finish always on a Jnat where the number of strokes can very depending on the razor. For me I can feel when the razor is there, no downward pressure when finishing the edge.
My question is how exactly do you know you are doing strokes with less than the weight of the razor?
No down pressure stroke I understand but less than the weight of the razor how do you measure that? If there is less than the weight of the razor pressure on the surface then the bevel will not be making contact.

Of late my edges have gotten much smoother as the result of the lightest pressure I can manage. Some razors seem to like 8 to 10 passes on Balsa pasted with Crox some don't seem to respond. Leather stropping at again the lightest pressure I can maintain good contact followed by about 10 passes very lightly on the heel of my hand. Between shaves I have been having the best luck with nothing more than the heel of my hand. I haven't been doing this long enough(less than 12 shaves) to know when I need to go back to the leather.

Pretty much X strokes on the final stone which is usually the Escher for me or sometimes the Coticule. The number of strokes varies depending on the razor however they are very very light and after 20 strokes I test hoping that's all it needs. Of course there are exceptions like the Kamisori which are totally different in stroke and pressure and some standard razors that just take way more like my TI Damascus and the TI Silverwing.

I think the "less than weight of razor" pressure thing may refer to the *additional* downward pressure on the edge ie lay the razor on the hone ("weight of razor" pressure) and then "zero" the scales. Anything after that is referred to as the "downward pressure".

In fact, the weight of the entire razor will not end up hitting the hone through the edge anyway, as weight load is spread over the spine and the fingers holding the scales. So technically "less than the weight of the razor" in terms of pressure on the edge is kind of a given anyway.

But that is just my take - I could be wrong and certainly do not want to put words in someone else's mouth, so please correct me if I have misinterpreted.

James.

I try to go as light as possible and use 10-20 strokes on my 12k stone. But there are other factors at play, and things don't always go according to plan.

If I used too much pressure early on, then my lightest strokes are less likely to touch the whole edge. I have to go back to some medium pressure x-strokes on a lower grit. Then I can use my lightest pressure progressing from there.

With the lightest pressure, I still aim for a sensation of the razor "catching" the hone on the whole edge. I'm often using some form of modded x-stroke dictated by what the razor seems to want, and by the time I get to 12k, I know what sensation to look for.

I haven't tried stropping strokes, but I might try it at some point if I can ever get some more razors to hone.

Michael

He's talking about finishing on the hone, using "stropping strokes" or edge trailing, Spine leading...Correct...?

I don't think I've ever done that on the rocks before. Has anyone else, What kind of results do you get?

Like TBS and JImmyhad, I normally finish up on my Escher 90% of the time with x strokes, and it's edge leading, very light strokes.
If not the Escher, usually a Jnat, maybe a Coti.....