Thread: Too much pressure on finishing stone

I'm new to honing. I was wondering what effect too much pressure would have on a finishing stone. What would it do to the edge and how can you tell you have used too much pressure?
Thanks.

If you use too much pressure on the finishing hone, any hone for that matter, you actually bend the blade. Then the edge is not in contact with the hone but part of the bevel is. If your bevel has the striations of the finishing hone for most of the bevel but at the edge they are from the previous hone you know you did not reach the edge, apex of the two opposing bevels. You may even see that you have moved the shoulder of the bevel higher too. Someone with more knowledge just might correct me on that so standby.

Bob

BobH's description is the same effect seen when the honer allows tape to wear down. As the tape wears, the spine gets closer to the edge and the edge lifts off the hone.

I think these 2 gentleman have pretty much covered it. Watching water cut off the hone is another thing you can do to see as it happens. I been advising that a lot lately it seems but I use it all the time. If your cutting water and then all of a sudden your not your using/used to much pressure or like Ron said it's time to change the tape. Water cutting of course is just 1 thing to watch.

If you push the edge flat on your thumbnail you can see the flex with varying pressure under a bright light, it can be very extreme with an extra hollow and almost non existent with a wedge. I try and calibrate my hands doing this before honing especially on hollow+ blades

Which stone and razor are you using?

Result vary depending on the stone, the razor and the grind.

Photos, always help.

Originally Posted by mattyboy

I'm new to honing. I was wondering what effect too much pressure would have on a finishing stone. What would it do to the edge and how can you tell you have used too much pressure?
Thanks.

Initially you will flex the edge away from the stone but after reaching the edge it will mash your edge &/or cause chips & burrs.
Have to remember that regardless of the grind an optimal razor edge is roughly 0.4 micron wide.

Originally Posted by mattyboy

I'm new to honing. I was wondering what effect too much pressure would have on a finishing stone. What would it do to the edge and how can you tell you have used too much pressure?
Thanks.

Basically, as you progress from bevel set to edge refinement to finishing, the pressure of the edge on the hone should continue to reduce. The final polishing should be done with no more than the weight of the blade--the lightest possible pressure unless you take up honing in the future on Mars.

Years ago I watched Ron finish a blade. "Butterfly" kisses most accurately describe the pressure put on the stone.

It was lesson that has served me well.

Originally Posted by mattyboy

I'm new to honing. I was wondering what effect too much pressure would have on a finishing stone. What would it do to the edge and how can you tell you have used too much pressure?
Thanks.

it will have the effect of rounding, the edge will feel dull and will be pulling.