Thread: Progressive Honing Guide

Thanks for this post. Much appreciated.


Richard

Originally Posted by Soopercat

Nice...part 2 of the question then is how much do you gain by stropping after .25 paste. I have it in my head that I lose something after paddle strop/hone with .25 then stropping.. stropping before every shave is something I've always done. But in experimenting with different razors and hones, now .25 paste, can't put my finger on it but that first shave without hanging stropping felt different (good).

also could have been technique on my part.

kind regards,

I use the .25 paste also, but I only use it as part of the honing process and only on certain razors or types of razors... I gotta clarify here though, are you stropping on the .25 pasted strop other than once, after you hone???
Are you using the pasted strop instead of a leather strop???
I'm kind of lost what you meant in your post???

Sorry sorta

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I use the .25 paste also, but I only use it as part of the honing process and only on certain razors or types of razors... I gotta clarify here though, are you stropping on the .25 pasted strop other than once, after you hone???
Are you using the pasted strop instead of a leather strop???
I'm kind of lost what you meant in your post???

Sorry sorta

I am experimenting with a Spyderco UF and a Chinese 12k on separate razors, then stepping into .5 and .25 diamond pastes on a 4 sided paddle. I am only using the paste as part of the honing process. My hanging strops have no paste of any kind on them, just the paddle. The test shave just felt closer without using the hanging strop as a finisher than the razor I used after stropping with the hanging strop. I hope that makes sense... I will use PM to follow up as I don't want to take this fine thread into a granularity that may confuse anyone. uhh further

Kind regards,

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Very nice writeup and great timing. I'm about to start honing myself.

Really? You sound pretty sharp already.

Originally Posted by Soopercat

I am experimenting with a Spyderco UF and a Chinese 12k on separate razors, then stepping into .5 and .25 diamond pastes on a 4 sided paddle. I am only using the paste as part of the honing process. My hanging strops have no paste of any kind on them, just the paddle. The test shave just felt closer without using the hanging strop as a finisher than the razor I used after stropping with the hanging strop. I hope that makes sense... I will use PM to follow up as I don't want to take this fine thread into a granularity that may confuse anyone. uhh further

Kind regards,

I think we should keep the discussion here just in case anybody else is reading it now Again sorry for the slight posts please pull these when the thread goes to the honing sticky, like I'm sure it will
The edge right off the .25 probably felt slightly sharper, than off a leather strop, because it possibly was a little rougher, The leather aligns and smooths the edge so the "feeling" will be a little smoother, also much more comfortable for yer face.... Keep in mind though every edge and every face is a little different, so my theory has always been "if it works for you keep using it" another thing I just noticed is that in yer post it seems like we are talking about 2 different razors, which if that is the case, then all this is a moot point because even 2 razors of the same brand might feel slightly different when you shave....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I think we should keep the discussion here just in case anybody else is reading it now Again sorry for the slight posts please pull these when the thread goes to the honing sticky, like I'm sure it will
The edge right off the .25 probably felt slightly sharper, than off a leather strop, because it possibly was a little rougher, The leather aligns and smooths the edge so the "feeling" will be a little smoother, also much more comfortable for yer face.... Keep in mind though every edge and every face is a little different, so my theory has always been "if it works for you keep using it" another thing I just noticed is that in yer post it seems like we are talking about 2 different razors, which if that is the case, then all this is a moot point because even 2 razors of the same brand might feel slightly different when you shave....

We are talking about 2 different razors but using the same side of the face for the tests, both pre-strop and post strop testing. Curiosity had me scratching my head after experimenting for the last couple days.

I had gone through Joel's threads over at B&B on honing the Dovo's and watched Lynn's DVD for the (n)th time and got to thinking.

Kind regards,

Originally Posted by Soopercat

We are talking about 2 different razors but using the same side of the face for the tests, both pre-strop and post strop testing. Curiosity had me scratching my head after experimenting for the last couple days.

I had gone through Joel's threads over at B&B on honing the Dovo's and watched Lynn's DVD for the (n)th time and got to thinking.

Kind regards,

My advice now would be to break it down with 1 razor and actually do the experiment!!!!
See what happens with the shave????
Also the more you strop, the better you get, and you will be paying particular attention to doing it perfect with this, so I just threw another wrinkle in there
Face it we are not practicing an exact science, it is an art, and sometimes I think we tend to over analyze things... But let us know what ya find .....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

My advice now would be to break it down with 1 razor and actually do the experiment!!!!
See what happens with the shave????
Also the more you strop, the better you get, and you will be paying particular attention to doing it perfect with this, so I just threw another wrinkle in there
Face it we are not practicing an exact science, it is an art, and sometimes I think we tend to over analyze things... But let us know what ya find .....

I've done it. which was my reason for the original post, (should you or do you strop after .25) the first shave without stropping felt better. Jimbo mentioned that he used two razors, one for his face another on his head and I've started to do the same. So I chose to do two instead of one (face first). The shaves are both great (closer than with either hone alone) but I still feel that first shave with the .25 un-stropped is very nice. Not that the stropped isn't, but the cheeks feel smoother a couple hours post shave than with stropped razors. Shame, but as you noted, stropping more with deliberate intent to may change my view. Thanks again.

Kind regards,

People call me on the phone all the time very confused about honing. I tell them that the general rule is to progress from coarser hones to finer hones and then strop. Progressive honing holds true for all kinds of edges from lawn mowers to straight razors (you don't have to strop the lawn mower . . . ). The idea is that the scratches caused on the metal by the coarser hone will be removed by the next finer hone which will make finer scratches. You can see this if you use something like a Radio Shack illuminated microscope (about $10). You can also use to know when to progress to the next finer stone. If you hone in one direction, the scratches will all be in one direction. On the next hone, rub the other way and when all of the previous scratches are gone, test the blade and if necessary proceed to a finer hone or the strop.

People in general truely do not understand stropping. Stay off it if the shave isn't better, which it probably won't be till you get much better. Off .25 or .5 and for me even a good stroke 8K, stropping is almost a waste of time and effort. After a few shaves stropping becomes much, much, more important.