Thread: not quite passing hht

Size doesn't really matter, except for convenience.
I just sold a 5x1.25 coticule to heliguy, and I used it to finish one of his razors, simply to prove that it is OK.

a 5x1 or even a 4x1 will do the job just fine. Of course, the fact that they are smaller mean that you'd have to do more laps, but other than that it works fine.

I'd even argue that the smaller size is more versatile. Narrow hones work great with razors that have a smile or slight warp to the blade. I have two sizes, a 2" wide coticule and a 1.5" wide one that gets used on problem children...

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Narrow hones work great with razors that have a smile or slight warp to the blade.

I've heard this claim many times and never understood why width matters. Just because you've got 3" doesn't mean you've got to use it. I've honed smiling blades on 3" wide hones and on 0.5" wide hones and it never seemed to matter. My smiling blades get honed on a half-inch wide strip down the hone and the extra width never comes into play at all.

I'd say it's more of an issue for slightly warped blades than for smiles.

Nice, even smiles are easier for me than the blades where the toe and heel have a more abrupt curve. But I've always had a hard time getting the rock 'n' roll honing stroke just right. A narrow hone that I can hold in my hand and tilt as necessary makes it easier for me to keep the pressure even.

You can use just the edge of the hone, and I've had some success doing that, but again I find it's easy to mess up the pressure

Josh

I hand-hold my Shaptons as well when I'm honing a smiler, the instability does seem to make it simpler to keep the pressure even.

well alright now! i did 30 very light trips around the frictionite with lather and what do you know? popping hairs fairly well! a true thing of beauty. after a quick prep i went to work doing a complete 2 pass shave with a little touch up. i didnt even reach for the de! i am sure the razor isnt as sharp as is could be but it is passible for myself. not as close of a shave compaired to the merkur 38c/derby for now. i am sure with more work on honing and stropping and technique my result will keep improving.

cheers,
ryan

I love it when a plan comes together!

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