Thread: Honed to success

You guys forgot the "honing tongue" position. For some reason, balance probably, sticking my tongue out to one side helps me enormously when honing.

James.

Originally Posted by murph

What no left hand forefinger in the right ear while honing and pinky finger when stropping?

I learned that a while ago and it's helped 100%!

Originally Posted by misteredwino

1.Pyramids
2. Checking the progress frequently
3. Keep pinky finger curled under to ensure flatness
4. Making an X pattern heel to toe...and sometimes toe to heel if the heel is taking an edge faster.
5. Listening for changes in sound, seeing the edge improve visually, thumb test, and then the hair test.
...So that's my method, what's yers?

Originally Posted by xman

Steps 1-5, but I use the Rolling Hone instead of the X motion.

Alright someone explain this damn pinky thing, #3.

If it really insures flatness, then dammit I wanna know about it.

Originally Posted by misteredwino

15. Taste the blade?(not responsible for those dumb enough to actually try this...please don't, it's only a joke)

*muffled sound from gauze in his mouth* Damn you Misteredwino.. That was sharp, but tasted a bit like iron (could have been the blood though)

Originally Posted by dylandog

Alright someone explain this damn pinky thing, #3.

If it really insures flatness, then dammit I wanna know about it.

Put your pinky under the scales and balance the shank between your thumb and index finger. Lifting UP with your pinky slightly will ensure the blade remains flat on the hone, despite any poor strokes, earthquakes, etc. Gently upward, ensures perfection against the hone.

To push gently down, raise pinky up grasshopper

Originally Posted by Jimbo

You guys forgot the "honing tongue" position. For some reason, balance probably, sticking my tongue out to one side helps me enormously when honing.

James.

Doesn't Charlie Brown use the tongue method when trying to kick the football from Lucy?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Put your pinky under the scales and balance the shank between your thumb and index finger. Lifting UP with your pinky slightly will ensure the blade remains flat on the hone, despite any poor strokes, earthquakes, etc. Gently upward, ensures perfection against the hone.

To push gently down, raise pinky up grasshopper

you rock, Alan

Originally Posted by JMS

Doesn't Charlie Brown use the tongue method when trying to kick the football from Lucy?

That's right! LOL! As long as someone doesn't whip the stone away just as I'm about to hone....

James.

It sounds like you've settled on a progressive hone. This is the honing method I use and a number of folks who have had trouble getting an edge have gotten their best shaves going progressive. Not much magic here... really! The concept is that the steel is progressively moved from coarser stones to finer stones. If it's really dull I start with a DMT1200 with detergent/water solution, then a slurried blue belgian, then a slurried coticule, and then a leather strop. Once I get the razor sharp I keep it sharp giving it a few licks on the coticule every week or so (let your face tell you when to hone). "It's easier to keep your blade sharp than it is to sharpen your blade".

Summary: 1200, 4000, 8000, strop. Progressive Honing.

Originally Posted by xman

Steps 1-5, but I use the Rolling Hone instead of the X motion.
I'm already X enough.

X

P.S. When you say "Check the progress", which tests do you like?

I feel with my thumbpad until I can cut hairs with about 3 different areas on the blade. Then I just strop and shave. If I can't shave arm hairs, I know that I'm not even close so I use a little pressure to speed things up.