Thread: Honing issues

Originally Posted by Gasman

Try to set up your camera at the far side of the stone. That way we can see the edge roll. But also up some. Another view from the side so we can see the water/slurry while your honing. Glen would be better at giving camera instruction.

Having a wide bevel in places can happen with warped blades or uneven grinds. You can find it on a lot of Sheffields. Another thing to keep in mind when doubling up tape, mainly with wedges, is to be sure the stone is only touching the tape at the spine. If the tape is wearing at the ends/middle of the blade then the tape is holding the blade up off the spine. This is why sometimes you have to trim your tape so it don't wrap too far down past the spines sides at times.
Hope that made sence.

The tape. yes it did.

When you say the far side to you mean the top of the stone (short side farthest away from me as I hone? So set the camera at the top on a angle that shows the toe of the blade? Or are you saying 2 cameras? The later would be a bit difficult .

I didn't have anything ready to hone so I put some shoes onto these.

I think Razor one might be better at duplicating what ever problem I am having simply because of the smile it has. but both are hollows and my problem razors have been wedges to some extent. Or am I just over thinking?

Just a quick pic to help explain the tape.

If you find the tape wearing out here... it's not doing the job for you. The spine is being held up off the stone some.


You need to see wear marks here only...


This happens when you have layers of tape on a near wedge razor. Not a hollow ground razor. IF you ever find this, trim your tape thinner so it doesn't wrap as far down the face of the razor. Only on the sides of the spine.

Glen is the video guy so have him explain angles and what would be best.

No, you're not overthinking it, at least not as far as wedges being more of an issue. Wedges, especially Sheffield wedges as Jerry said are more prone to spine warpage and uneven grinds especially near wedges and quarter hollows. At least that's the experience I've had. Often the grind has a hump in the middle and the bevel is wonky.
They are harder to get a handle on honing in general. If you're new to honing I think it is easier to start with hollow ground razors for this reasons mentioned. As the process becomes more clear to you and your muscle memory improves it falls into place easier...or you can go the trial by fire route if you're courageous. Just know that it comes with challenges.
You'll get it though. You're asking good questions and you have a good attitude. That counts for a lot. Be patient and listen and you'll work through it.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

No, you're not overthinking it, at least not as far as wedges being more of an issue. Wedges, especially Sheffield wedges as Jerry said are more prone to spine warpage and uneven grinds especially near wedges and quarter hollows. At least that's the experience I've had.

Also the angle of the grind behind the edge relative to the centerline is greater on heavy grinds. The closer this angle behind the edge is to the bevel angle the more the geometry issues will show in the bevel reveal widths.

Here is a video of me setting the bevel. This razor didn't give me as much trouble as some of the others.

I know that I am going to get a rash if shit for flipping the razor the wrong way but flipping it over the spine just don't feel right to me and I get get in the habit of doing it. I have no problem flipping the razor the right way when stropping but when honing I just can't.

https://youtu.be/rr1TP1os5J4

Still a bit of trouble getting to the heel.


Please don't beat me up too bad..

I'd say ya need to reshape the heel. Stabilizer is keeping it off the hone

And I see no use of doing circles on a smiling blade.

Other than that, I don't see any obvious problems.

As Outback said, that heal needs work.
Charlie had a vid showing how to hone a smiling edge. Showed the rolling x to the extreme as the razor he was using was a big smiling razor. Maybe someone can find that as it might help you to understand the rolling x. I cant tell if your rolling on this vid. And doing circles you had better be rolling as you do the circles or your just making a frown.

Originally Posted by Gasman

As Outback said, that heal needs work.
Charlie had a vid showing how to hone a smiling edge. Showed the rolling x to the extreme as the razor he was using was a big smiling razor. Maybe someone can find that as it might help you to understand the rolling x. I cant tell if your rolling on this vid. And doing circles you had better be rolling as you do the circles or your just making a frown.

When you say rolling I assume that you mean rolling the pressure from the heal to the toe as as I make the x stroke??/

Yes. And you should see the water move from the heal to the toe staying in front of the blade.

I wont harp at you but... When i learned to flip the blade the RIGHT way was the day it all started to come together fir me. Just saying.