Thread: Can a razor pass all the bevel setting test and still not be set?

It’s not Black Magic, but sometimes can seem that way.

The key to good honing, is understanding what you are seeing, and that can take some time to learn. Problem solving. A systematic approach, magnification and ink on the bevel, will help you greatly.

Remember, the goal is to get the bevels to meet, and then, get the edge as straight as possible. Once you are absolutely sure your bevel is fully set, joint it and reset it with light laps. It will straighten the edge dramatically and improve effects of your polishing and finishing stones.

You can straighten the edge, just by honing, but for the new honer, it is more difficult, because of the alteration of pressure. Jointing solves that problem easily.

I agree. I have two beaters that I have used to learn the skill. Reading and watching more experienced honers has been invaluable to me. I have develop a system that works for me, it doesn't confuse me, and most importantly it keeps it simple.

But as I continue to improve, I also improve my technique by experimenting with new things.

Correct pressure is so hard to teach or explain, but once your hands get calibrated it will be much less an issue.

I almost always use two hands when honing, but it's just a finger on the toe and use it more like a steering wheel or stabilizer and I rarely use any pressure

Originally Posted by rodb

Correct pressure is so hard to teach or explain, but once your hands get calibrated it will be much less an issue.

I almost always use two hands when honing, but it's just a finger on the toe and use it more like a steering wheel or stabilizer and I rarely use any pressure

This was a great lesson to learn!

Update again! I have successfully honed 4 other razors with the same method since working with my very difficult Hart steel blade and I have come to a similar conclusion across the board. It turns out I wasn't far off from having the most wonderful shaves ever.

Yes I learned a lot from this OP question about bevel setting but that wasn't the problem it was totally revolved around torquing the blade to the edge riding the wave of water each pass that made the world of a difference. Thanks Glen!

There is a lot of stuff out there in videos and suggestions in forums but I did not find much info on folks stressing the edge torque issue. Maybe for others it comes naturally or is common sense or maybe it doesn't make much of a notable difference for them? Anyways consistent torque pressure while watching the wave of water in front of my razor told me I was hitting all pistons and the shave was song worthy! Which is what I learned here in SRP!!!

I will note that without torquing the edge down to the stone there can be a false positive that the water looks identical gliding over the edge as it should but the results will pass all the test except the comfort test. Without torquing the blades edge down to the stone the edges point will most likely get touched, sort of like it will hydroplaning no surface traction!

Again thank you everyone

Without torquing the blades edge down to the stone the edges point will most likely get touched, sort of like it will hydroplaning no surface traction!




Too much pressure or not enough.

Sharpie ink on the bevel, and some magnification would tell you, if you were not honing all the way, to the edge.

Solving most honing issues is a matter of identifying problems. Looking at the edge, is always a good start.

For those they haven’t read my posts am new in honing.
My biggest problem was, I could not understand the meaning of pressure, with torqueing no problem. I made a test witch works for me and I like to shear it. I use my electronic scale. I put me stone and my razor on it, I reset the weight to zero and I start honing watching the increasing of the weight. After that I understand the lot of pressure, medium pressure, no pressure. Most important weight your razor first. Lot of pressure 3 times the weight of the razor. No pressure 50% above the nominal weight of your razor. Again this is my way of understanding the meaning of pressure.
Thanks comets are expecting, especially from the vendors.

[QUOTE=vsmirnios;1674332]I use my electronic scale. I put me stone and my razor on it, I reset the weight to zero and I start honing watching the increasing of the weight. After that I understand the lot of pressure, medium pressure, no pressure. Most important weight your razor first. Lot of pressure 3 times the weight of the razor. No pressure 50% above the nominal weight of your razor. Again this is my way of understanding the meaning of pressure./QUOTE]


This actually goes back some years in the honing forum I am pretty sure I remember somebody did a vid

It is a good idea

BUT

Here are the flaws we found with it

People try and get really light rather then getting the edge to contact
Too light a pressure is actually almost as bad as too heavy as you are not honing the edge but behind the edge
The pressure is not a constant it actually changes depending on the condition of the edge
The pressure also changes from bevel set to finish and even from the first strokes on a hone to the last in a progression

I am NOT saying it is a bad idea I am saying we tried it years ago and this is what we found lacking with it

That’s why I said minimum pressure + 50% of the weight of the razor. Is To avoid this problem. By the way were is that post still exist??
Ps. am an engineer pressure can be measured and be define.

Originally Posted by vsmirnios

That’s why I said minimum pressure + 50% of the weight of the razor. Is To avoid this problem. By the way were is that post still exist??
Ps. am an engineer pressure can be measured and be define.

You are missing the point perhaps in translation

You can define the pressure that you used on one razor, but that amount of pressure might not work on the next razor...
This is exactly what takes Honing SR's out of the realm of engineering and into the realm of art.. Or as so many like to sarcastically say "Honing ain't Rocket Science" in which they are correct,, rocket science is exact, and honing SR's ain't


I will see if I can't find the old threads on it for you


Once again I am not saying it is a bad idea I am telling you the flaws we found in it