The honing so far: honing by feel
Hi All. I've done it, taken my first dip into honing and managed to bring an old Kropp I picked up back to shave ready. It was completely blunt after blade cleaning, so bevel reset and then, er, quite a few :-) attempts to get an edge on it. Having a professionally honed razor as a benchmark is an absolute must and gave at first what felt like an impossible and frustrating target.
I haven't exactly got a standard set up, a 1000/3000 Naniwa waterstone and the set of Welsh stones much discussed here of slightly uncertain progression...but possibly starting at 8000. I also have, to my very great delight, my Grandad's old Belgian Coticule backed with Belgian Blue and slurry stones.
I'm still not completely happy, but it's been a great learning experience. One thing I have picked up is that watching the honing videos when you don't have a standard set up is useful, but the numbers of strokes might not mean much - different steel, different pressures, moisture levels, slurry thickness and in the case of the Coticule/belgian blue garnet size and shape etc. I've found it most helpful to progress by feel and use a lens to review the edge.
What I mean by feel is that when the edge begins to develop it seems to me it starts to get sticky or bite the stone and I recall hearing this I think from Lynn in one of his videos. This works really well on the Coticule so my honing progression so far has consisted not of stroke counting but going with the feel of the edge. I'm sure stroke counting consistency will come when I have a set of standard stones, but for non standard it seems to work for me.
Any thoughts here on this? I guess this what is meant by stone feedback?
The other thing that finally gave a good edge was not having the stone on the bench. I was really struggling and stiff, it didn't feel natural at all. I watch Maestro Livi honing stood up at the sink with running water and also some Coticule honing videos. Both holding the stone, stood with the arms free to move. For me it made all the difference. Easier to get angles and keep that pesky elbow aligned.
I think the message here, as always, is try lots of methods and find something that works for you on that particular razor.
