Thread: Half stroke heaven

I also like half strokes. They feel more natural for me when grinding metal & yes, they work great for smiling edges. Another thing to try is to do them 1 direction w/o pulling the razor back on the stone. Just pick the razor off & do another stroke from the starting position.

On a bevel setter when you're getting close, or a 4k, try 10/10, 5/5, 3/3, 2/2, then go to x-strokes w/ light pressure & gradually back off to no pressure & test.

Half strokes are great BUT if you do them straight on you run the risk of creating a frown. Heel leading is my preferred method.

Originally Posted by bill3152

Half strokes are great BUT if you do them straight on you run the risk of creating a frown. Heel leading is my preferred method.

I've never figured out how a frown is even possible on a flat stone, assuming that your keeping the whole blade on the stone and not using pressure to deform the blade.

I don't use strokes without lateral movement. No two planes are perfectly flat so I use lateral movement on everything and all my half strokes use the heel leading in some way. As Lynn says on 3 inch hones: you don't have to go crazy with lateral movement just a little will get it done. It is not always a true 45 but some angle is used.

Originally Posted by JReed

At the risk of sounding dumb. What is a half stroke?

Originally Posted by aa1192

A single stroke in one direction. Imagine never flipping the razor at the end of your stroke but pulling it back like a stropping stroke. Do that twenty times then flip over and repeat for the other side. You can change the count to fit your needs. You can also think of half strokes as giant circles/ellipses.

Often/Originally called Japanese honing or a Chisel Stroke

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I've never figured out how a frown is even possible on a flat stone, assuming that your keeping the whole blade on the stone and not using pressure to deform the blade.

Because sometimes, the Razor can be off, and if you watch some of the "experts" demonstrate it they stick a finger in the middle of the razor.. Remember at the Colo meet when I was showing you guys the stroke to avoid/fix a slight frown ???? almost the same technique..

Originally Posted by aa1192

I don't use strokes without lateral movement. No two planes are perfectly flat so I use lateral movement on everything and all my half strokes use the heel leading in some way. As Lynn says on 3 inch hones: you don't have to go crazy with lateral movement just a little will get it done. It is not always a true 45 but some angle is used.

Yeppers same here. never a straight stroke or angle and you should have no worries