An "Aha!" moment

After honing my ownb blades for the past yearI came to a point were I thought some honing days are good (handful of strokes gives me a + TPT) and some not so good (many strokes required for a +TPT).

After a particularly bad night when my blade seemed as dull as ever after honing I was on the verge of giving up. I stropped it a few times on a towel to take clean off the blade and then for kicks tested the edge one last time. To my surprise it was very very sharp.

It must seem pretty basic to all you honers out there, but to me it was a eureka moment. I was always trying to pass the TPT directly from honing, without stropping afterwards. This would lead to countless extra (and quite unnecessary) laps.

From now on after several laps on the norton 8k, I'm going to strop it a little bit before I do the TPT.
I am curious what the more experienced honemeisters have to say.

Diego

Huh, the TPT ought to work before stropping. Maybe it will work better after stropping but it always gives a positive result for me before I move to a strop.

Can you describe what you mean by a positive result?

I see what you mean. Perhaps I may find myself needing to hone the blade sooner than previously.

A positive result for me is: the edge of the blade digs into the pad of the thumb slightly.

Well, each time you hone a blade is going to be slightly different from every other time.

The way that I hone is to keep making passes until I've set a bevel on whichever grit is suitable for the blade in question (1k to 8k depending) at which point the blade should pass the tpt, then I move on to higher grits doing the various tests along the way.

Wet skin will also tend to give a false negative, the blade doesn't grip wet skin like it does dry, so try to keep one thumb dry while you hone.

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Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

Well, each time you hone a blade is going to be slightly different from every other time.

The way that I hone is to keep making passes until I've set a bevel on whichever grit is suitable for the blade in question (1k to 8k depending) at which point the blade should pass the tpt, then I move on to higher grits doing the various tests along the way.

Wet skin will also tend to give a false negative, the blade doesn't grip wet skin like it does dry, so try to keep one thumb dry while you hone.

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Now there is another little nuance for me. Wet thumb versus dry thumb yields different result and dry thumb should be used.

Thanks!

For me, passing the TPT does not require stropping. Focus more attention on the bevel setting stage or perhaps your honing to fast.
I have slowed down my honing stroke to about 1 second, or about 3 seconds per lap. You should also have a bit more pressure on the edge than you do on the spine, torque.

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Originally Posted by netsurfr

Now there is another little nuance for me. Wet thumb versus dry thumb yields different result and dry thumb should be used.

Thanks!

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Same here! It never occurred to me since I always wet hone...:hmmm:

Hmmm.... I always use a wet thumb!:) That gives me a better "feel" for the edge. As always, being consistent is the most important. Do it one way or the other but not both. Then you will learn how the "feel" correlates to an actual shave.

Have a good weekend!:)

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Originally Posted by randydance062449

Hmmm.... I always use a wet thumb!:) That gives me a better "feel" for the edge. As always, being consistent is the most important. Do it one way or the other but not both. Then you will learn how the "feel" correlates to an actual shave.

Have a good weekend!:)

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Oh man, there you go messing witn my new found knowledge. Just when I thought I had discovered a new secret of the art, I find out that the universal answer applies: IT DEPENDS. :hmmm:

HA!

That's great Randy, I guess I just prefer the feeling of the Dry Thumb Test over the Wet Thumb Test.

So yeah, I guess we've determined, yet again, that YMMV!:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by randydance062449

Hmmm.... I always use a wet thumb!:) That gives me a better "feel" for the edge. As always, being consistent is the most important. Do it one way or the other but not both. Then you will learn how the "feel" correlates to an actual shave.

Have a good weekend!:)

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+1 same here. I always use a slightly wet thumb and the feedback I get is my reference towards the actual honing stage I'm at.

i use the TPT during each stage. it feels different from setting the bevel to stropping. this was my 'AHA' moment when i really understood what setting the bevel meant. i got a true understanding of the TPT.

dry thumb here.

vgod

I also use a wet thumb or a variation of it. I press my thumb pad into the wet towel I use underneath my stone holder for a few seconds then a quickly wipe it off then TPT. I've found if I try the TPT with a completely dry thumb pad, my thumbs can be very dry and slightly calloused. I can't get the sticky feel with a totally dry thumb.

Chris L

My thumbs are very calloused and my guess is I've ruined more edges by screwing around with them than honing-stropping-shaving.

I used to believe in the " Oh, yeah- I got this S*&^ figured out". About that time I get another razor that none of the old tricks worked on.

I can't remember the last time I had a BAD razor burn. My Wacker Inox seemed not quite right this afternoon. Instead of grabbing ANOTHER razor- I gave it a VERY slight touch up on my .5 micron diamond paddle strop. USUALLY WORKS:hmmm:- Well, after the shave-let's say I would have done better with a cheese grater.:cen

The thing that is so fascinating about this pursuit is the quest for the PERFECT EDGE.:w

Creating it-well, let's say its ellusive.:cool: