Thread: Barbering textbook question

I started with watching Lynn's DVD and he basically says not to apply pressure during horning and just use razor's weight (if I understood correctly). Now, I'm looking at the barbering textbook and it seems slightly different.

First, it says, when honing dull razor, you should make strokes with firm pressure and ease the pressure as the razor takes edge.

Also, it says in order to maintain a correct curve, you need to do a few strokes applying pressure towards the heel, then a few strokes with pressure towards the point and then a few storokes without pressure.

So which way is better. Was the DVD meant to simplify things for beginners? Or the textbook method doesn't work with fast cutting Norton stones?

Another question is about the pyramid: the DVD says a conservative pyramid could be 5/5, 3/3, 1/3, 1/5. While the pyramid document from files section seems a lot longer (1/5, 1/5, 3/5, 5/5, etc). So which one is better?

If the razor is almost ready or has recently dulled, you'll be able to get a way with a gentler approach. Razors requiring a firmer hand should benefit more from ... well, a firmer hand. The personality of the specific razor will come into play as well. I do find that a little pressure at the beginning of the honing (say about 2lb of pressure) helps create a better edge faster.

To keep the right shape, rather than focus on the heel and then on the toe, I recommend using the Rolling Hone stroke with every pass. this is where you start with the blade angled ever so slightly toward the heel and as you progress along the hone, gently and gradually roll that main point of contact with the stone up the edge to the tip by the end of the stroke. Do the same on the way back. Gently and evenly does it.

X

Its all correct, and not contridictory. Additionally, barbers often used one high grit hone, so dull=pressure, sharp=no pressure. Lynn and many others use two stones, low and high grit allowing a light touch all the time.