Thread: I almost had it

Just as I thought I was getting there with honing. Today I am left super confused. After having very little success with the 3" Norton 4/8, I cut it in two lengthwise. I have since been adapting the pyramid method for use with my (just over 1") Norton. I have been doing 10,5,3,1 laps on the 4k side, each of these followed by 8-10 laps on the 8k side. I hope you understand what I mean here. I followed this with a good few laps on a 5"x1" vintage Thuringen I got from Kees. First with slurry, then with water. All this with the one of my three wapis which has a reasonably un warped blade. The other two have a slight warp to them, so I set them aside for later.

After all this, the blade seemed pretty sharp. Shaves armhair slightly above skin level. I gave it a real good strop and shaved. It shaved the right side of my face pretty close. A tiny bit rough, but I figured this would smooth out after a few shaves. Changed hands and shaved the left hand side of my face. It skipped and slid, and cut pretty much nothing. Classic overhoned edge, I thought. I have always wondered about this overhoning, but now I think I know what it feels like.

How could one side of the blade behave reasonably well and the other perform so badly?
Would the Thuringen not knock off any wire edge left from the Norton? (Part of the reason I used it).
What do I do now?

I'm very confused as to how this could happen. No matter which way you turn the razor, you're still cutting with the same edge, right?

Connor

Edit, I also have a small belgian blue, a spyderco 303MF and some DMTs.

what did you describe is overhoned blade.there is quite different ways to get it fix.lets try easy first.
use only thuringian approximately 20-30 laps and check it out did blade get dull?if yes then you are in good shape.Another way take matchstick and use your razor cut down it will broke all overhoned edge now you will need to put a new bevel and start over but who gives guarranty you won't overhone it again.i hope you have green past if yes then this will be easiest.green past on strop and don't tide strop to much and strop the raazor 30-times edge's should be broke down.after that try thuringian only.Norton 8k will overhone very easy.
hope this helps

To remove a burr, finish your honing with 4 toe-leading back strokes, then 5 more forward strokes. (Back strokes must lead with the toe so you match the scratch pattern). That trick comes courtesy of Puffah.

The really easy way to check for an over honed edge, look at the edge with a loupe or magnifying glass......
The honing method you described sounds as though it would be really tough to produce one, unless you are using pressure, or because you cut down the stone you are not flat on the razor edge... (really easy to do on a narrow hone)
One of the inherent problems of the narrow hones is the increased likelyhood of using them incorrectly..... The can be fantastic tools on smilers and warped blades if used correctly....