Thread: Sorry. I broke all the rules.

So after experimenting on my gold dollar I went to work on my dovo. I don't have much in way of hones ect. so I made due with what I did have and broke some rules along the way but my razor came out the other end wicked sharp.

First, I tried slurry on my Guangxi and it seemed to really dull the blade as I couldn't even get an edge back no matter what I did (pressure, no pressure, all water, diluted slurry) so I went to a small fine Arkansas stone that I have for knives which is probably around 1000-1200 grit. Light pressure and honing oil and I was able to get a pretty good edge back. Then went to my guangxi and polished it up some. Then I thought I would try some reverse strokes or backward honing on the Guangxi (told you I broke some rules) and it was wicked sharp. Stropped around 60 times and I'm back in business. I know Some will say what I did will cause long term problems down the road and I am curious to hear opinions about this but hey it worked for now and I wanted to share the success to hear opinions and maybe help someone else down the road.

I'm not sure what rules you actually broke.

I do reverse strokes all the time, in conjunction with forward strokes of course. I'll often also do circles on polishing stones which obviously involves backward strokes, and I know a lot of people use circles on the bevel setting grits too.

No, I think what you did was experiment and found a way that works for you. It might not be the most efficient, it may not be the most elegant, it may not be the recommended way, but if you got an edge that works for you then at some level what you did was successful.

Basically the honing "rules" we recommend here are the result of quite a lot of man-years worth of experience and experimentation, and are basically designed to help new users get consistent, repeatable, and decent results when they first try honing. In fact, they are really a set of "advice" rather than rules.

I'm tempted to say there are no rules to honing, but of course there are. But they are very general and basic - don't lift the spine; don't use a brick; rub razor on an abrasive substance until sharp. Anything else is efficiency gain.

James.

If you are doing circles, you are doing reverse strokes and normal strokes combined. I also sometimes do a few reverse strokes when honing especially when finishing. I wouldn't worry to much

I have to tell you even though you may have stretch some rules you didn't break any. The thing is if you are talking about really breaking rules there are some folks who do things from way out in left field and the result is perfection. You would never recommend their recipe but for them it works.

So the moral of the story is you find a way that works for you. It's only because of this site you get to instantly compare your method and worry about it being the right way. At one time people blazed their own trail and some made it to their destination and some were eaten by the bear.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I have to tell you even though you may have stretch some rules you didn't break any. The thing is if you are talking about really breaking rules there are some folks who do things from way out in left field and the result is perfection. You would never recommend their recipe but for them it works.

So the moral of the story is you find a way that works for you. It's only because of this site you get to instantly compare your method and worry about it being the right way. At one time people blazed their own trail and some made it to their destination and some were eaten by the bear.

This site has done wonders for me. It really has. I'm just a little worried that since I strayed from the 'norm' that there might be repercussions like a frown edge or uneven bevel or something like that further down the road.

I am happy that i was able to keep the razor flat and consistent on the small knife hone to set the bevel but I know from experience that what worked tonight might work tomorrow but then again it may not. Hopefully it will be repeatable but when I can't get things to work I search here for an answer and PM some honemeisters or post a question to get feedback. Then I try that feedback. Something always comes to light and I am able to get it sharp again (so far, knock on wood). In fact the stropping stroke I tried today on the Guangxi I yelled to Glen about and he told me about a 3-2-1 stroke he uses sometimes. So I really do owe any success I have to this site.

I just hope that by trying different things I'm not setting myself up for future failure but I guess if I am it is all a learning experience right?