Honing pressure ?

[Neckbone]

I'm getting decent shaves from my honing, but I believe it could be better.
One reason I think this is the failure of HHT and TTH tests. I've been told to ignore those hair cutting tests, but there has to be something to them.
Anyway, I fear lifting the spline on the stones, or not maintaining the proper contact. This is more so with the tradition hand grip seen in the videos.
As a result, I'm laying my index finger on the blade close to mid point to maintain good contact. My pressure is medium to light with slow deliberate strokes.
Now I wonder if that is the reason it can't get a HHT successfully.
Without the controlling finger, I feel the blade to stone contact suffers.
Am I screwing up?

[bill3152]

Maybe, although a magic marker test will tell you easily whats what. I use two hands always and have no issues with pressure etc.

[gssixgun]

What is a TTH ????

How does your HHT works with a DE blade ????

[Neckbone]

What is a TTH ????

How does your HHT works with a DE blade ????

Sorry, I was guessing at the 'tree top' hair cutting initials. LOL
Good suggestion with the DE.

My concern is wobbling the blade on the stone.
I'll try feather light on 8k and 12k.
Thanks.

[gssixgun]

Sorry, I was guessing at the 'tree top' hair cutting initials. LOL
Good suggestion with the DE.

My concern is wobbling the blade on the stone.
I'll try feather light on 8k and 12k.
Thanks.

Until you have a baseline expectation, those Hair tests are pretty much useless, they have to be calibrated to tell you anything at all... This is the biggest reason we tell people they are useless from the get go...

Don't wobble the blade

The spine and the edge has to HAS TO stay in contact with the hone, the manipulations that are required to accomplish that are what we like to call "Honing Gymnastics" there are no shortcuts, the more you hone the better you get,,, Period, end of story... Feather light means diddly squat if you are not in contact evenly and equally across the hone with every stroke...

It is best to start pushing the envelope on a razor that is in excellent geometric form that you are very familiar with, and only after you are successfully getting shave ready edges easily...


Building into WOW edges is a slow process, and a fun one, don't try and rush it, sit back and enjoy the process

[Splashone]

Gravity has been working without fail for millions of years. Trust in it!

[Birnando]

We need lots more info before we can help you with getting even keener edges.
Stuff like what stones/progression are you using?
And what razors are you honing on them?

As to pressure, less is more once the bevel is set.
I suggest getting more practice without using your index finger on the middle of the blade.
Especially when doing the last two stages of your honing process.

Bevel set, sharpening, polishing and finishing are normally the four stages we go through with razors.
On setting the bevel I use quite a lot of pressure before finishing that stage much lighter.
When sharpening a steady but by no means heavy pressure seems to be what I use the most.
Again, easing up at the final laps.
This prepares for the next levels.

Once we arrive at the polishing and finishing stages, pressure is out the window.
Light as a feather, trust the stones.
They are effective even at very low pressure although it may be hard to feel it.

[ariwhiteboy]

I also use my index finger on the blade to keep it steady, but no real pressure other than the weight of the blade. Getting good shaves off 4/8k norton and a 12k nani progression followed by crox, linen, bridle stropping.

The biggest difference last go round was using circles on the 4k prior to pyramiding. It might just be in my head, but the blades seemed to come off the stones a bit sharper vs using x-stroke alone.

[SirStropalot]

Neckbone,

Plenty of good info in the previous posts. However I think this video by Glen will be beneficial. I know it's helped a number of new honers.

Howard

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vxrs5kF...%3Dvxrs5kFkmJg

[rodb]

I use my index finger just on the toe of the blade, I use the same or less pressure as the other hand and use no pressure on the finishing hone, just for stability and guiding purposes only. It works well for me