Thread: What does it indicate when your blade skips or catches on the surface of the stone?

I have a question I have been wondering about a long time, and have never asked any honemeisters.

I just finally got a great shaving edge on an old Wostenholm IXL quarter-hollow with original horn scales that I got as a pretty cheap buy off eBay. But it took 4 lengthy honing sessions and 3 do-overs to get there, so I earned that shave this morning. I did not use tape when honing this one, and it had a few geometry issues to overcome. I had a hard time setting a bevel in the first place, and lost the good bevel I started with during my progression, as this has a smiling blade and my stroke consistency sometimes "wanders" when doing smiling blades. I've favored very hollow grind paper-thin razors for years, but am now really liking the thicker older Sheffield steel. There is a learning curve.

Anyhow, my question is this: each time I failed getting/keeping a good edge on this razor through the progression, the "tell" was a skipping or catching sensation of the blade on the stone during the later (finishing) stages in the progression. When I get it right, I get a nice smooth drag or draw across the stroke. What does that skipping or catching feel in the stroke indicate about the state of the edge? I get it with any natural finisher - Coticules, Thuris, JNats, or even on my Shapton 16K synthetic. It seems most pronounced on Thuris for some reason, as soon as the slurry thins out, if the edge is not right, it really starts skipping and catching. I don't see anything obvious under magnification, but I have been known to miss many things under magnification.

I'm sure many other people have felt this same catching sensation when honing. I know it's a bad thing and means I have to back way down in my progression, but what is it, exactly? Curious.

Was your hone lapped flat? Are you applying too much pressure to the blade and hone? These are a start for questions. I put a bevel on the edge of my hone after lapping. This prevents the edge catching on edge of hone.

It sounds to me like a wire-edge. Time to do some backwards strokes and strop it on stiff linen.
It is possible to wire-edge a part of the bevel and not others.
Setting the bevel on heavy grinds often takes longer to get the entire edge done.

If not completely set, one side or one spot will produce this sensation.

My sentiments exactly, Tom.

If I’m not feeling a consistent feeling all across the edge as I’m a stroke on a hone there is inevitably something not quite right with the edge.

I’ve had issues with wire edges on restores, where I’m really getting after it to get e bevel set or fix something off at the edge. After having the bevel set I’d run through my progression and test shave and the edge would try and rip my face off. With a good hard look through a loop and some razor gymnastics I could see a wire edge in some spots. Now when ever I set a bevel, restore or otherwise, I set it once then run the edge on the side of my bevelsetter with only enough pressure to keep the edge in contact With the hone, maybe 2-3 swipes, then I lightly reset the bevel again. Only takes about 10-15 laps then I move on. Makes a huge difference in comfort when you come out the other side.

The only other time I’ve encountered what you’re talking about is when I finish on my Arkansas but the cause on that one is too thick of a lubricant, but that sounds like a totally different situation than what you’re experiencing.

My reply is basically the same as Tom's

Your bevel is not completely set. Or you've changed how the blade is passing across the stone.

For example: If I set the bevel with a particular style of stroke, ( X, Rolling X, Swoop, ect.). that's how I finish through the progression. ( same path, distance, same pressure ). Lightening up pressure towards the end.

You've answered your own question, several times, in your post. "The bevel isn't right"

It skips, where it looses contact with the hone. And digs where there's a high spot.

That's why I like my Washita after the big green brick, it has a very distinct grab when the bevel is completely joined. ( like throwing out an anchor ) Also sounds different, too.

While it is possible to hone a full-hollow grind razor without the use of tape, it is difficult to hone quarter hollow and near wedge blades without using tape.

Also, if the blade has some geometry issues, you need to correct them. It might even help to use a very narrow hone to make use you are honing every spot along the edge. If your hones are at least 3/4" thick, you can turn a hone on its side and hone on the side rather than the normal flat surface. However, be sure to lap the edge you plan to use.