Thread: When to use a finishing stone?

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

I'm having some serious issues with my honing skills these days.It seems like the more you learn about honing, the less you acctually know.I'm having a problem with desiding when to leave my norton 4000/8000, and continue to my 12k chinese.I'm really on deep water when trying to hone a razor thats dull.Are you guys finishing the use of the Norton with exclusivly the 8000 side, or do you use a pyramide all the way?.An excample of a honing progression from start to finish on a dull ebay razor would be greatly appriciated! Also, are you guys actually able to get a really keen edge directly from the 12k? I meen really really sharp... I'm about to slit my throat here, if only I could get my razors sharp enough...

HELP!

Being a pyramid honer I thought I'd take a stab at this one. I usually work the pyramid until, just as Randy says in the guide, I can feel significant improvement using the TPT. Then I might do an extra five laps on the 8K mostly out of superstition really (its worked before to help it'll work again). Then I go shave, or partly shave with the blade. At this point it all depends on how the shave feels. If it feels great I'm done. If it shaves well but doesn't feel great I'm done with the 8K but I will work with my finisher to make it feel smoother.

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

You guys just changed my honing philosophy! I could probably shave right from the 4000.
The rest is dessert.From now on no more pyramid for me, this method is much simpler!

Its only simpler if you are sure when to move up in grit. If you have a tendency to get impatient then you will likely move up in grit to fast and cost yourself a lot of frustration. I used to hone progressively but switched to the pyramid in order to improve the effects I was getting and I found it much easier to get a longer lasting edge with that method.

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

I'll probably get a fancy japanese stone , or a shapton later on, but for now this is fine.
Hmmm, except Lynns whool strop with some crox...

You can if you want to but I think these stones will only improve a great edge. A merely ok edge will benefit from more skill much more than from more hone.

Fantastic feedback from all of you guys.I really appriciate it, got my motivation back on track.I think its great that we have this place were we all can help eachother out.

Have a super weekend.

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Great idea