Thread: 4 Hours of Honing = No Effect! Still metal strips

Originally Posted by ProfessorShak

I have Lynn's DVD and watched it twice (great video). As per my discussion in a previous thread about the inefficiency of the X pattern on a 3" stone, I only use X strokes on stones less than 3".

Why don't you try an X-pattern to see if it makes a difference?

Try putting the razor on the hone at an angle, so that the entire blade is on the hone, but you still get the same effect as though using an X pattern.

I'm not a mathematical person so I can't tell you the correct term for the razor angle to the hone thing, that I am trying to explain.

1st you need to inspect the bevel: are there any burrs, is it even? If not you have to set a bevel with the 4K or even a coarser hone depending on the state of the cutting edge. You can use the marker test to check if all parts of the bevel on either side of the blade make good contact with the hone and get metal shifted. Always do X-patterns as explained before.

As soon as this is the case you can move up to the 8K, do 20 laps and see what happens. If no better, go back to the 4K, do say 5-10 laps and go back to the 8K and so on. Evenutally you will find the edge gets no sharper. At this stage you can progress to pyramids to see if you can further improve the edge. Pyramids are explained in the help files. When you come to the point where the edge gets no sharper: strop and shave.

I have put a shave ready edge on about 10 razors now and every one of them took slightly different strokes on my norton. Also, I am setting the bevel on a 1K which is a little faster. I found that I have to be willing to adjust my honing stroke to the razor.

hope this helps,

-Rob

Originally Posted by sicboater

I have put a shave ready edge on about 10 razors now and every one of them took slightly different strokes on my norton. Also, I am setting the bevel on a 1K which is a little faster. I found that I have to be willing to adjust my honing stroke to the razor.

hope this helps,

-Rob

I too use a 1k for setting bevels, it is so much better.

Ok so are the black stripes attributed to my honing or to my stones?

Originally Posted by ProfessorShak

Ok so are the black stripes attributed to my honing or to my stones?

I don't know, but my reasoning process goes like this:

The black stripes indicate where metal is being removed. The stripe pattern is uneven, indicating that contact between the metal and hone is uneven. As you say, it's unlikely that all your razors are warped. You've lapped the hones. So, the only thing left is your technique. I have tried using the straight across stroke that you argue for and, personally, I have a hard time keeping the whole blade flat on the hone for the entire stroke unless I use two hands, and then the pressure is uneven. This is one of the reasons why I prefer the X-stroke, because it's easier to get consistent results. This is why I suggested that you try an X-stroke to see if it makes a difference. I'm not any kind of expert on honing razors, I just try different things to see how they work. I am able to hone my razors sharp because I've figured out a sequence of steps that brings me to that result but, even if I was standing next to you, I wouldn't be able to tell you what was wrong. I would most likely say, "Here, let me do it."