Thread: "starting over"

what is the preferred way of "starting over" on an edge if its current state of sharpness is dubious/unknown?

in lynn's video i see he uses small circular strokes on the 4k when he feels the blade is in an overhoned state, bringing the blade back to a state where he can properly hone it.

any other techniques people use with success? given a blade is brought back to zero with a circular stroke, etc, what is the preferred pyramid from there?

i am practicing honing on my "practice" blade and i want to re-attempt a hone,, and i want to make sure i "zero" it before starting again

thanks!

In general, it is recommended to do as little as possible. How little depends on the condition of the edge

What do you mean, the sharpness is unknown? You have to be able to determine where the edge is, if you want to be able to hone it well. Sure, this only comes with experience...

Does it shave at all? Does it pull very hard? Does it pass HHT with badger / boar? How does the thumb pad test feel? How about a thumbnail test?

If the razor shaved before - you can probably get by with just pasted strop. Or maybe a fine hone needs to be added.

Circles on 4K just for fun - Only if you want to remove chips, or some major bevel work. Plus, some senior members believe that circles stress the steel and lead to microchipping later (even on a fine Swaty, let alone Norton 4K)

Cheers
Ivo

thanks Ivo!

the blade i am referring to is my practice blade. its safe to say i have done things to this blade already in the process of trying to learn how to hone it that would probably get me kicked off this site. circular movements on the 4k (and 8k) are a done deal! i have done pyramids on this blade maybe ten times already. i just want to see a HHT pass. if not a hair split, then at least a "grab". right now the hairs just slide off. i have shaved with this but i need to do multiple passes to get close (with much irritation). the blade feels sharp to the touch but i am sure any moderately sharp blade would.

so i guess what i am looking for is some strokes to hit the reset button and rehone as if the blade was dull(ish). i know that by rehoning i am going to whittle this thing down from a 5/8 to a 4/8 but i am okay with that, this is a tester/learner. the blade coincidentally is a new(ish) TI 5/8. i know i am supposed to buy a $1.99 blade to practice on, but my fumbling has made this blade a practice blade by default.

my uneducated guess is to do another short pyramid and then go at it with the green/red pastes on the paddle strop, for maybe more strokes than i had previously employed. i will then likely go at it with the undressed strop for maybe 100-200 strokes. if it still doesn't pass the HHT, i will just give up on stropping and fund the honemeisters for my needs.

i'm not a complete lost cause, i also have a DOVO which i love and still passes the HHT with only a strop. it is basically brand new and i will not be subjecting it to any of my abuse like my TI.

thanks!

Well, it depends on how "reset" you want it.

Anything that will dull the edge should work to give you some touching-up practice. Back honing, running your edge over a match stick (or block of wood!), the thumb nail test a couple of times.

But you need a good bevel as a foundation. Just taking it back to a coarser grit and working on the bevel will generally blow away any previous hone work, in my experience anyway. I've read that some (not that many, AFAICT) people work on the bevel until a wire edge develops and then move on to higher grits, so...

If it's really a practice blade, the sky's the limit as far as what you can subject it to, I guess.

James.

Perform the TNT first. Then go back to the 4k. Perform 25 laps. Do a TNT. Stay on the 4K until it passes the TNT. Go to the 8K. Perform 25 laps. Do not use the TNT. Try the HHT. Do not use the green or red pastes. Just strop on plain leather for 50 laps and test shave. Let us know how it shaves.

Just my two cents,

You are probably overhoned.

Originally Posted by b7j0c

its safe to say i have done things to this blade already in the process of trying to learn how to hone it that would probably get me kicked off this site

LOL - I think everyone has done this. I know I have, for sure. Don't worry about it.

Keep us updated on the progress. I'd buy a loupe to check the edge

Cheers
Ivo