Thread: Pressure question

So I've heard many times to put practically zero pressure while doing laps on norton. I, however, feel that if I put no pressure, there's no uniform contact between the edge and the stone. So does no pressure actually means no pressure or there should still be a couple of lbs present?

You should not need a couple of pounds of pressure, but use just enough to keep the edge contacting the hone uniformly. As your technique gets better, you should need less pressure to maintain even hone contact and this will help produce a sharper edge. Less pressure leads to a sharper edge because it lets just the tip of the edge contact of the hone. If you use too much pressure the thin edge will bend back slightly and you will not be sharpening the very edge anymore. This can lead to a wire edge. In the beginning stages of honing a dull razor you can use 1 to 2 pounds of pressure to cut faster because the edge is not developed yet. Hope this helps.