Thread: The wrong question with no right answer; stroke count.

I know that asking how many strokes to hone a razor is considered an illegitimate question by most, but I'm curious what are your general guidelines? I am asking how many strokes, post bevel set, per stone. I use a Nani 5k, Norton 8k, Nani 12k, and then whatever finisher tickles my fancy at the time. I don't use the circle method often, unless I have a razor with near perfect/linear geometry. Generally after bevel set I will do 50 strokes on my 5k and then 30 at the 8k. Does this seem high or low to anyone more experienced?

Different steels vary in their performance on the stone. That's why you cannot give a solid stroke count.

Do you have an average though or a starting point you begin with? I was reading something about it being actually quite difficult to overhone a blade without going way overboard. Is that true? Is it possible to overhone at the 4/5k level? Sorry, I know that is a lot of random questions to tack on, but something I was also wondering.

This is really a hard question because of so many variables, but at least you asked about the count AFTER the bevel set hehehe

Honestly your's seem a bit high, but it is more important to go by feel rather then count it really really is, I would drop your count down and see what happens to the feel of the edge across the hone..

How the razor shaves is the ultimate test, if you think yours can get better then start adjusting the way you are honing, if it gets better, then keep tweaking one thing at a time until your returns reverse and you start losing ground... There is a ton of trial and error when chasing edges

I guess I'll be the crazy one that throws out some numbers....

I do go by feel but the strokes usually land in this ballpark with the stones around the grit I mention. Add an extra 10% if it is stainless steel.

Bevel set: 40 circles on each side with light pressure on a 1k Norton. Usually followed by twenty or so x strokes
Post bevel sharpen: 40 circles on each side with light pressure on 4k Norton
Sharpen: 40 circles on each side with no pressure on 4k Norton. Usually followed by five or so x strokes
Polish: 8 x strokes on 8k Norton with no pressure
Finish stone: 10 x strokes on 12k naniwa with no pressure
Finish strop: 10 x strokes on CrOx strop with no pressure
Clean strop: 10 x strokes on linen
Final strop: 30 x strokes on leather
Shave

Originally Posted by aa1192

Do you have an average though or a starting point you begin with? I was reading something about it being actually quite difficult to overhone a blade without going way overboard. Is that true? Is it possible to overhone at the 4/5k level? Sorry, I know that is a lot of random questions to tack on, but something I was also wondering.

No,,,,,,,,because every blade is an "individual",,,,,,,,,,,,when I first pick up a razor to hone it, I have no predetermined routine/method, I inspect each blade with a loop before it touches a stone, I think about what needs to be done, the type of steel I'm dealing with,,,then I choose the stones,,,I let each stone dictate the next level/progression.

I will try toning down my numbers I guess then. I have only recently began increasing laps to see if I have better results. If overhoning is as difficult as it was made to seem; I figured why not do extra laps. This is why I asked what are some ballpark numbers for everyone honing. However limited in scope numbers may be I guess I'm looking for some guidance that is not in the pyramid format.
My limited experience so far has been after the bevel set each blade follows a pretty similar routine in honing. I have yet to sharpen a stainless blade though and will be interested to see how that changes things. I don't obey a set system, but get to a certain number then do some tests and take it from there. I'm super curious though can you overhone at the sharpening stage or is it only at the point of polishing and up?

Originally Posted by aa1192

I don't obey a set system, but get to a certain number then do some tests and take it from there. I'm super curious though can you overhone at the sharpening stage or is it only at the point of polishing and up?

There you go just feel your way through best bet always


The first indication of pushing the edge to far is most likely going to be a diminishing count in the number of shaves from that edge.. Unless you use excessive pressure or laps overhoning is a small problem, it just isn't that easy.. Look for a drop in Comfort and a drop in Longevity to tell you to back off

Your amount of light pressure and Criswilson's amount of light pressure might be the same difference between my no pressure and my light pressure :<0) He may be honing American steel and your honing Sheffield. I am honing German. How many differences do you see here ?
I would ask you to try this. When you go up to the next grit do you feel the blade start to glide across the stone with less feedback ? In other words how long before it starts to feel smoother. Does it feel smooth all the way across the blade on the lap ? Start trying to feel it and you can forget counting. Now, I defer to sixgun's expertise, he has been honing a lot longer than I have. I am just sharing how I got past counting and pyramids. Good ways to get started but my confidence level went up 10 fold when I began to feel what was going on. This means on the hone and then on the face.

And criswilson does not do enough laps on the linen or the final strop :<0) If he tripled those last 2 steps I bet he could feel the difference. If not he hasn't shaved enough with a straight yet to tell. No offense cris , just my opinion based on my experience again!

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I would ask you to try this. When you go up to the next grit do you feel the blade start to glide across the stone with less feedback ? In other words how long before it starts to feel smoother. Does it feel smooth all the way across the blade on the lap ? Start trying to feel it and you can forget counting. Now, I defer to sixgun's expertise, he has been honing a lot longer than I have.

Defer nutin brother that is exactly what I am trying to say also, we are preaching from the same book