Thread: I prefer honing wedges

I don't know why but I seem to have a much higher success rate with honing wedges than hollow grounds. I have simply honed more wedges and find approaching hollow grounds difficult. I just got a few and can't get an edge equivalent to my wedges.
Anybody else conditioned themselves to wedges?

At first, I had better luck with sharpening wedges. Once I learned to really use extremely light/no down pressure, my full-hollows became every bit as sharp as the wedges. I'd say that the hollows are much more sensitive to down pressure, bending the cutting edge away from the hone (much thinner blades).

I have to continually remind myself that the weight of the blade, all by itself, is more than enough to finish an edge up. Wedge or hollow.

A lot of people prefer to shave with wedges, and wedges will also shave better than a full-hollow if both have an equally sub-par edge. This is because the weight of the wedge creates more momentum. On the other hand, all else equal the wedge will take more time to hone properly than a full-hollow because more metal will have to be removed. Even though I would rather shave with a really nice wedge than a really nice full-hollow, I would probably rather hone a full-hollow most of the time because it will take less time to get great results if done right.

Good for you, but how would you explain the difference yourself? Do you use the same pressure on both wedges and hollows?

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by heavydutysg135

A lot of people prefer to shave with wedges, and wedges will also shave better than a full-hollow if both have an equally sub-par edge. This is because the weight of the wedge creates more momentum. On the other hand, all else equal the wedge will take more time to hone properly than a full-hollow because more metal will have to be removed. Even though I would rather shave with a really nice wedge than a really nice full-hollow, I would probably rather hone a full-hollow most of the time because it will take less time to get great results if done right.

So what your really saying is you want to have your cake and eat it too.

If you use a half or quarter hollow, you can have your cake and eat it.

I have tried different techniques for both sorts. I do find the hollows bend too though. I think that I originally liked them because they still shaved with a not so good edge. Now I don't mind either to shave with.

Another thing I hate about hollows is the sound on the hone - it creeps me out!

About how much more time are you spending when you hone a wedge than a hollow?

I ask be cause I just got a small wedge (AJ Jordon) off ebay, and it seems to be taking for ever to hone. I checked the bevel and it's fine, but it just doesn't seem to want to get sharp. I have knives that are sharper. Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by Hanno

About how much more time are you spending when you hone a wedge than a hollow?

I ask be cause I just got a small wedge (AJ Jordon) off ebay, and it seems to be taking for ever to hone. I checked the bevel and it's fine, but it just doesn't seem to want to get sharp. I have knives that are sharper. Any thoughts?

Wedges do take a bit longer to sharpen...sometimes.

Use marker on the edge, take 10 laps on 1k to 4k. See if the hone is actually working the edge along it's entire length and to the outermost edge. If it is you will soon be able to pass the TNT. Once that happens go to the 8k (from the 4k, or go to the 4k if you are on 1k).

Hope that helps,

It takes a lot longer to set the bevel than you think on a wedge. If you are honing with the 8k and getting no progress the chances are that the bevel really does need more work. It can take some creative honing to get the bevel even sometimes.
On a razor with a chip I can spend 30 minutes with a 1k just to organise the bevel properly. Sometimes more. The rest of the honing process takes a bit longer than a hollow ground but nothing ridiculous. I would say depending on the wedge between 15 mins to an hour from start to finish.
I find it depends greatly on the condition of the blade as to hone out a chip on a wedge takes forever.