Thread: Honing Issues

Hi, can some one give me some tips on my honing please

I've noticed that when I set the bevel, I take the razor in my right hand and start to perform circles , normally I stay in the top quarter of the hone.
Afterwards I can see that I am taking more metal from the centre section of the blade than from the toe / heel areas.
This also leads to the toe of the blade not touching the hone unless I do exaggerated X-strokes, where the toe near enough comes off the hone at the end of the stroke.
It also means that when I'm on my Jnats I have to raise the heel a touch to get the toe to make a decent contact with the hone.

After some circles on that side of the blade, I don't then flip it and do the other side. I swap hands . I take the blade with my non honing hand and do circles in the centre of the stone and near the bottom of the stone.
That side of the blade is perfect, even ware all the way along. (ridiculous)

Is there a solution to this?
Change my posture or seating position maybe.
I suppose an answer could be to stop doing circles...
I've been honing like this for a few years now and I must put a stop to it
Many thanks

What works will always depend on the particular razor you are using and its geometry. I think it is beneficial for everyone who wants to hone their own razors to research, explore, practice and develop their skill in all kinds of honing strokes.

In this particular case it sounds to me like you'd be better off using something like a rolling X stroke for this razor. Or, if you want to use circles then add in a rolling motion to that - adapt what you do so that you incorporate the circles with the rolling action - kinda like a corkscrew or spiralling X stroke perhaps.

I'm not sure I follow you when you say you change hands instead of flip the blade - you are still on the same side of the razor when you swap hands? If that's true, why swap hands at all? I'm also not sure it has any bearing on your particular problem in this case, though your non-dominant hand is likely to be more unpredictable and less in control than the dominant.

So, in summary I think, based on what you've told us, that you need to work on expanding your stroke repertoire and in particular take a look at videos and posts related to the X stroke and the rolling X stroke for razors that don't sit flat on the hone.

And of course, make sure your stones are lapped flat. First rule of hone club...

Good luck.

James.

I've read the Op's post and I'm 'thinking' that the changing of hands is from learning how to sharpen a knife.

Way back in the mid 70's when I was learning how to be a meat cutter the man who taught me (he'd started as an apprentice meat cutter in 1934) showed me how to sharpen a knife. While the X strokes were kind of 'similar' you did swap hands.

I've posted time and time again that sharpening a Knife is Totally Different from 'Honing' a razor.

The OP may not be doing what I describe about sharpening a knife but I thought it well to put the concept forth.

Thanks for the replies.
When I swap hands it is to work the opposite side of the blade . The reason I do that is because I don't feel comfortable flipping the blade in the same hand I started with and doing circles going up the hone. If I swap hands I can go from top to bottom.
I think some of the problem is that I write with my right hand but the rest of me is all left.
I'm left footed, I throw a ball with my left, I punch with the left, I shoot rifels on the left, on a motorcycle left bends are my favourite
Basically I think I've answered my own question here, hone with my left hand.

I do a multitude of strokes, rolling x and so on but that was always with synthetics.
Now I'm mainly honing on Jnats I feel the rolling x may add pressure at certain points of the stroke and I want weight of the blade only.
Also I cant do extravagant x strokes because I don't want the slurry to fall off the edge of the hone...

Originally Posted by JOB15

Thanks for the replies.
When I swap hands it is to work the opposite side of the blade . The reason I do that is because I don't feel comfortable flipping the blade in the same hand I started with and doing circles going up the hone. If I swap hands I can go from top to bottom.
I think some of the problem is that I write with my right hand but the rest of me is all left.
I'm left footed, I throw a ball with my left, I punch with the left, I shoot rifels on the left, on a motorcycle left bends are my favourite
Basically I think I've answered my own question here, hone with my left hand.

I do a multitude of strokes, rolling x and so on but that was always with synthetics.
Now I'm mainly honing on Jnats I feel the rolling x may add pressure at certain points of the stroke and I want weight of the blade only.
Also I cant do extravagant x strokes because I don't want the slurry to fall off the edge of the hone...

While I'm right handed your explanation makes perfect sense and so does your analysis;
Basically I think I've answered my own question here, hone with my left hand.

I'd give that a go! It makes sense! If you are 99% Left Handed then you 'should' be more comfortable with honing.

Again Give the Left Handed honing a go and let us know how it goes mate!

You may have a razor that is not evenly ground on one side if your technique is not at fault.

Placing the razor on a flat surface & looking for daylight thru gaps in the contact areas will tell you something about the stroke you need to hone it.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

In this particular case it sounds to me like you'd be better off using something like a rolling X stroke for this razor. Or, if you want to use circles then add in a rolling motion to that - adapt what you do so that you incorporate the circles with the rolling action - kinda like a corkscrew or spiralling X stroke perhaps.

+1. For me

Originally Posted by onimaru55

You may have a razor that is not evenly ground on one side if your technique is not at fault.

Placing the razor on a flat surface & looking for daylight thru gaps in the contact areas will tell you something about the stroke you need to hone it.

That could be part of the problem and using tape as I do the spine end can never get corrected.
I did have a few things to try out but im not feeling well for some reason.
In this frame of mind I'm liable to do more damage than good.
My experiments will have to wait until tomorrow

I do remember a while ago some one on this forum saying that they often come across right handed honers that take more metal from the centre of the blade than the ends. I thought maybe it was a known problem.

I just did that table top test and the blade rocks , it is warped.
How do you correct a warp?
I'm thinking light stroke on my Shapton 500k with no tape?

Just follow the warp when you hone, no reason to cause unnecessary hone wear. Rolling x on the one side regular x on the other. You may need to spend a little time getting the bevel even on the one wonky side if it is really bothering you, otherwise leave it, as long as you haven't worked a frown into it.