Thread: Strokes of the Pyramid.

So I got my new water stone yesterday and I decided to give it a go on the Pyramid technique since it is a 3/8k combination stone. Long behold I was reading the guide that Lynn wrote, honing along when I got to the 3 3k strokes 3 8k strokes. I got confused thinking one side of the bevel would be getting more attention then the other. It was too late before I clued in to what I did, I used 6 strokes (3 laps) instead of 3 strokes on the 3k to in my mind even out the wear. I also did the 6 strokes on the 8k to deal with what I just did on the 3k... What a bonehead move. Would this effect the keenness of the blade being so close to the end of the Pyramid? Also another Pyramid question if I don't get to shave ready off the pyramid for some reason.. What now... do I drop down to the beginning of the pyramid or drop to a 1k and totally reset the bevel. My bevel is properly set on this particular razor btw. Sorry if this doesn't make the most sense I was just cooking beef and I added some jalapeños and rubbed my eyes by accident after touching the peppers and they are burning like hell.

If you are perceiving an odd number of strokes given, I expect you should interpret it to mean laps.I don't think anyone would advise to do more strokes on one side than the other. Most guys who hone pyramid develop different ones for different razors much as progressive honers do more strokes here or there for the same reason. To me, pyramid should start lots of each, dwindle down. a few on 3k(in your case?) and a pile on 8. Variations are inevitable as you learn. I seriously doubt any two do it the same!
YMMV

So the whole Pyramid method when stated "strokes" in reality means "laps?"

TBH strokes should be only used as in repair of an issue or used to describe front/back alternating strokes. Laps are simple. There and back! If I use 50 strokes I mean 25 laps. Maybe you could post a link to it? There are tons of different pyramids/stone combinations out there!

Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Library

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Library

Well, we got 25,15, 5,3, and one! I interpret the numbers as laps. I never get by with that on most vintage ones, however!
I AM pretty light-handed, though.
Mebbe Lynn will come along? Never read that before. I learned off his DVD long ago and forget what I saw!

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

So the whole Pyramid method when stated "strokes" in reality means "laps?"

Yes.

That is an ongoing confusion that keeps causing trouble for beginners.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Well, we got 25,15, 5,3, and one! I interpret the numbers as laps. I never get by with that on most vintage ones, however!
I AM pretty light-handed, though.
Mebbe Lynn will come along? Never read that before. I learned off his DVD long ago and forget what I saw!

I like to call them "round trips". I think that is clear to most anyone ? I.E. ......... 1 lap = one round trip or 1 pass each way ..........

To me, a stroke in honing or stropping has come to mean what Jimmy calls a "round trip" because you are trying to give equal treatment to both sides of the razor blade. Yes, that was confusing to me as a beginner also. OTH it does not take a lot to confuse this old fart.

Bob

I'm hoping for Lynn to jump in, but to me a stroke, a lap and a round trip are the same. Like a stroke in golf....backswing to follow through is a stroke. I can also think of a less polite example.