Thread: diferent natural stone honing method?

I tried it a while ago, but more as surface preparation than as a honing method. My idea was that it seemed to leave the surface much smoother, and (hopefully) therefore would somehow yield a better finish on the razor. To be honest, I don't think it made much difference. I find coticules too variable to tell. Perhaps it did, but my coti was having a bad day, perhaps it didn't, but my coti was having a good day. Perhaps it might have, but I was having a bad day. In the end, I went back to the old circles under running water, which is the way I always finish now, and contented myself with the fact that predictability is more useful than unpredictability, especially when dealing with temperamental stones.

As to how it works for honing, I noted it does change things, but was better used in pre-finishing stages. However, if you find a method that you think yields superior results, as compared to our usual uni or dilucot, then I would be happy to try it.

I don't hone on dry slurry, but I do have a smooth polishing JNat that I like to use dry with the lightest pressure for a dozen circles/ellipses and a half dozen x-strokes. A honing friend suggested I try this and it does boost HHT. The jury's out on how useful this really is, but I spoke of it with Takeshi-San at AFramesTokyo and he immediately connected the technique with removal of the fin that Iwasaki talks about.

It's fun to try and talk about different techniques and it's OK to try stuff that doesn't work out. Just re-hone the razor, mo' honing is mo' betta.

Cheers, Steve