Thread: How much pressure on bevel set

I have been honing a couple of months now and between the microscope and the tests I can see that I am improving. Its really interesting looking at the bevel on a razor I have recently honed and ones that I honed in the beginning. I can get my edge to treetop hairs after the final stropping and can get them to shave well, but I still cant tree top coming off the 1k. I have been afraid to put too much pressure because I dont want to screw something up. My question is how much pressure is too much. I see in Lynns video that he shakes the table and its obviously know you dont bear down on it as hard as u can. Is there a way u guys can explain how much pressure to use when setting the bevel?

I can never tree top hairs off a 1k, but I can pop arm hairs off with the blade touching my skin.

But to answer your question, it depends. When you are finishing the bevel, your pressure should be as light as possible. But when you need to remove metal (like for old, messed up, heavy grind blades), more pressure is fine. Keep the grind of the blade in mind, though; you don't want to be causing the blade to flex.

In short, it's one of those things that varies depending on the situation, and you get a feel for it after honing tons of razors...

I always finish with very very very little or no pressure on all stones. When setting a bevel you can use pressure, but finish with no pressure when the bevel is almost set. As for treetopping hairs off the 1k it really depends on your hair. I have really fine hair and its hard to do it with my hair. My leg hair though is quite easy. You could try your leg hair, but my main test for bevel set are TPT. I also like to be able to shave my arm hair quite effortlessly off the 1k.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I always finish with very very very little or no pressure on all stones. When setting a bevel you can use pressure, but finish with no pressure when the bevel is almost set. As for treetopping hairs off the 1k it really depends on your hair. I have really fine hair and its hard to do it with my hair. My leg hair though is quite easy. You could try your leg hair, but my main test for bevel set are TPT. I also like to be able to shave my arm hair quite effortlessly off the 1k.

Thats exactly what I do. I will use a little pressure once I get to the first lap my 3 k but no pressure on any stones after that. I too have fine hair and use my leg hair. No problem tree topping there after final stropping. Maybe Im making it more complicated than it really is. The end result is a good shave on most of the razors I hone. Maybe thats all that counts.

Originally Posted by ccase39

The end result is a good shave on most of the razors I hone. Maybe thats all that counts.

The shave is all that counts & a gazillion ways to get there.

I've never been able to tree-top on 1K either. I can get hairs mid-shaft & lower...that's it. Going so light that you don't have control of the razor and you roll the edge doesn't help either...just did it today on a finishing stone. Had to go back to 4K and work my way back up.

Out of curiosity, what 1K stone are you using?

Just some food for thought....

I (for whatever reason) use a some of pressure on the spine but I do so to keep straight edges straight. I do not believe this places much pressure on the EDGE (the way I do it).

Some guys talk about 'torquing' the blade into the hone, I do not do that usually.

Why am I rambling? Just to show that, while a wobbly table might wobble quite a bit, I am not necessarily using much pressure on the edge

Ditto on what others say about tree topping off 1k. I don't even try. Just do what you know is needed to get good shaves. If you get to that über-sharp on the 4, or 8k, then so be it. I prefer this and call it 'sneaking up on the edge'

[QUOTE=holli4pirating;1102608]
But to answer your question, it depends. When you are finishing the bevel, your pressure should be as light as possible. But when you need to remove metal (like for old, messed up, heavy grind blades), more pressure is fine. Keep the grind of the blade in mind, though; you don't want to be causing the blade to flex.QUOTE]


Might want to read that just one more time Well put Dylan

A bevel set isn't about "how sharp" it is about "sharp" period, once the two sides of the bevel meet into one plane that produces a sharp edge, the bevel is set.. If you continue past that, chasing a "Better" bevel set you just weakened the edge 1k stones cut deep you don't want to cut any deeper into the bevel than absolutely needed to make the edge meet in the middle (Cue Diamond Rio) then simply finesse the sharpness by sneaking up on a fine edge with higher grits..


Now enjoy the song as you think about all that LOL

Diamond Rio - Meet In The Middle - YouTube