Thread: Why should I kill the edge before honing?

That was my guess as well but I'll take scuffs over cuts. I've seen some REAL scary stropping from new guys over at Randy's house...lol

Originally Posted by Utopian

IF the science of sharp guy's photos can be believed, then glassing the edge might not be good for your strop. The photo showed that the edge folded over in an extreme "J" shape and this might lead to hook side of the "J" digging into the leather.

I've never tried it though. I just thought I'd toss it out for you to consider.

Originally Posted by rodb

That was my guess as well but I'll take scuffs over cuts. I've seen some REAL scary stropping from new guys over at Randy's house...lol

Got it. That makes perfect sense.

Personally though, I don't let beginners touch my strops. I have beginners strop on newspaper, and if they cut it, then they have to buy me a newspaper.

How about just calling it bread knifing and not inventing an additional term?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I like where you are going here, BUT, in the highly rarefied air that we are floating on with this topic every time it comes up, might I suggest that "Joint-Killing" might be more apropos

This is what I was thinking, but that has potential to carry other connotations depending on what circles you run in.

It's also a good way to get practice one all your razors are sharp and you've run out of things to hone. Find a razor you don't care about, kill edge, re-hone for the amusement factor. My Gold Dollar has been honed on every hone I have with every conceivable method. Twice.

I am easily entertained.

We can be a bit obsessive around here, inventing acronyms is our thing...lol!!

Originally Posted by gcbryan

How about just calling it bread knifing and not inventing an additional term?

Originally Posted by gcbryan

How about just calling it bread knifing and not inventing an additional term?

Well, that's fine. You could, but we are not "inventing" additional terms.

Joining or jointing an edge is lightly drawing an edge once or twice across a corner of a hone. Now, how would you define bread knifing?

Soo my microscope has arrived and I continued honing, but stil not getting the really razor sharp edges straight off the hone.
I can shave with them after stropping a lot with red compound, and then the shave is only just "possible".
I will start another topic about the stones to keep this one on-topic, but I might have bought the wrong hones (trying to go too cheap...)

I do not have a micro scope, I use a loupe, which is 30X. The mechanics of checking your apex with a microscope I am uncertain off. The setting of the bevel and the creation of the perfect apex is the foundation on which your entire edge is built. The principal is to create the perfect V and then polish it. To check to see that you have done this well, take your loupe and look almost strait down on the apex, with a bright light. As you move down the apex you should have not see any white or sparkles. Any white or sparkle and the bevel is not set, to not complete. That is the very first test you need to get beyond before moving up in your polishing of the bevels, those you will check from the side.