Thread: Honing Stroke Orthodoxy

Just a couple of points


Japanese Style honing

Kamisori honing


Nuff said

The only downside I've seen to half strokes is that any edge trailing stroke is more likely to draw out a burr. Generally speaking, edge leading X strokes don't do this, and for the most part half strokes don't either though I have done it on a 1K hone. The remedy for this is simple, just takes a few normal X strokes to knock any burrs off before moving on to the next step.

Technique also varies stone type to stone type. With fast cutting synthetics standard X strokes with edge leading will be plenty to get you through, especially on the higher grit stones where it will usually only take a small handful of strokes to get the desired result. Natural stones cut slower, and I tend to use half strokes all the way to the finishing stage, with a few regular X strokes thrown in here or there to ensure that I'm not forming a burr even though that's far less likely with a slow cutting natural.

But there's more than one way to skin a cat. All that matters at the end of the day is how pleased you are with your results.

There are many many paths that lead to the perfect edge, and they are all correct. When you are first learning, if you follow one persons technique until you can get predictable restults, you will find yourself with a good foundation from which to experiment from. Personally I chose to follow gssixgun videos for my foundation, and branched a little from there. meets are a great place to learn new stuff. I wish I could have started there. I think one of the ways I have seen many new guys get confused is by trying to listen too and try too many different techniques at the same time.

Originally Posted by Midway

I'm still a relative newcomer to the skill of honing. The orthodoxy is that the 'X stroke' is the preferable way to finish a razor, while the 'half stroke' and 'circles' are used for removing more material earlier in the honing progression.
Pretty much sums up razor honing in a nutshell.

In fact, many scoff at using a half stroke to finish a razor. The rub is there are some very respected members who use the half stroke to finish razors.
Really ? Haven't heard anyone here recommend it

So...........why is the half stroke not in the mainstream of finishing techniques?
Mainly because you want to finish up evenly & one stroke per side will do that whereas multiple strokes will not be as accurate.

Or is this just my perception and half strokes are indeed excellent finishing strokes ?
Speaking generally, on single bevel tools like chisels, Jp/knives etc this is an accepted honing method because of the geometry. You form a burr on the bevel & it is removed on the finest stone on the reverse side, (Ura ). Guys here tend not to go for burr formation on razors as it leads to uncomfortable shaves. You can of course do whatever you wish.

On a related note, is it not easier to see your progress if you remove stria in a different direction of the stria you created on a coarser stone?
Nope, not really. You should mostly look at the edge to see it refining, not the bevel.

What are the 'cons' of not doing so?
None really. In fact it may save you steel by not excessively honing for an aesthetic reason.

If I use half strokes on my 1k hone, and x strokes on my 4k hone, will I more easily see how well I've improved the bevel and therefore the edge?
Nope, because the strokes will all be in the same direction, unless you hone toe leading.

The natural extension of this would be to use half strokes on my 8k and then x strokes on my finisher of choice.

Thanks in advance for helping me expand my knowledge base!

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WOW! Have not seen such multiquoting in a good spell. Well-done, Oz!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

WOW! Have not seen such multiquoting in a good spell. Well-done, Oz!

Nothing like compounding an opening post, huh. ,,,, that's already compounded.
I got lot on the 4th sentence.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Nothing like compounding an opening post, huh. ,,,, that's already compounded.
I got lot on the 4th sentence.

If you mean lost, yeah. Had to read it 3 times!

It all made sense in the end!