Thread: Honing without the TPT/ Am I doing it wrong?

I don't TPT, nor do I TNT test either.

I simply look for cleaving the hair 2-3mm above the skin on the back of my hand at each stage of honing. It gets smoother and smoother as the honing progresses.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I don't TPT, nor do I TNT test either.

I simply look for cleaving the hair 2-3mm above the skin on the back of my hand at each stage of honing. It gets smoother and smoother as the honing progresses.

I have to agree here, I hardly use tests anymore either, but we are not learning to hone, and for people learning the ins and out of honing the tests when used properly give very good indicators of where the edge is going....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I have to agree here, I hardly use tests anymore either, but we are not learning to hone, and for people learning the ins and out of honing the tests when used properly give very good indicators of where the edge is going....

Interesting. I noticed that Lynn doesn't rely on tests but says the shave is the test. When I watched the video with Harrelson using his chisel honing method on a straight razor he never did any of the tests. He also lapped frequently and never used a pencil grid. No substitute for experience I guess.

I am still using the TNT, TPT , hair popping and HHT. I find checking my progress using those tests beneficial to know where I am. I also use the magnification and highly recommend that. To a certain extent I am beginning to be able to feel the progress by how the blade is on the stone but I am not at the point where I don't need the tests. Something to look forward to though.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Interesting. I noticed that Lynn doesn't rely on tests but says the shave is the test. When I watched the video with Harrelson using his chisel honing method on a straight razor he never did any of the tests. He also lapped frequently and never used a pencil grid. No substitute for experience I guess.

sorry
I don't know if I agree there, especially on the Shaptons, I still lap approximately every 10 razors.... using a grid, and very rarely does it ever take more than 20 seconds per stone to erase the grid.... I sorta believe that more lapping than that is a waste of very expensive Shapton stone.... Now I guess if you were more used to sharpening tools the wear pattern on the stone might be slightly more uneven than the nice light X patterns that we do for razors...JMHO

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I am still using the TNT, TPT , hair popping and HHT. I find checking my progress using those tests beneficial to know where I am. I also use the magnification and highly recommend that. To a certain extent I am beginning to be able to feel the progress by how the blade is on the stone but I am not at the point where I don't need the tests. Something to look forward to though.

Jimmy,

I don't know how noisy it is where you do most of your honing. I get into a zen when I hone and everything gets acute. I still use some of the tests to see where the edge is, especially along the full length, but I am moving away form it. Now it's mostly the award for completing the step.

While you are honing watch the way the water moves at the edge during each stroke and how it changes. Also listen to the sounds the blade makes as you move it across the hone. The sound changes. The feel of the blade as it moves across the hone also changes as the edge is refined. When flipping the blade for the reverse stroke the sound and feel also changes. Note where any or all of these are when you perform your tests. When you think you have it down don't perform the tests until you think the signals say it's time. In time you won't need the TNT and TPT or HHT, but they will always be fun.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

sorry
I don't know if I agree there, especially on the Shaptons, I still lap approximately every 10 razors.... using a grid, and very rarely does it ever take more than 20 seconds per stone to erase the grid.... I sorta believe that more lapping than that is a waste of very expensive Shapton stone.... Now I guess if you were more used to sharpening tools the wear pattern on the stone might be slightly more uneven than the nice light X patterns that we do for razors...JMHO

I am a firm believer in the pencil grid method of lapping and always use it. I just went back to Shapton's site and re-read what little they have in the way of instruction on lapping. Nowhere do they mention a pencil grid. The sheet I got with my GDLP doesn't mention it either.

I can't find it now and I don't recall where I read it but it may have been on the Shapton forum. I read that they went by the color of the top of the stone to determine if it was flat or not. Maybe Chris L might have seen that too. Not a very effective way of judging it IMO. The pencil grid is for sure the way to go.

Originally Posted by Joed

Jimmy,

I don't know how noisy it is where you do most of your honing. I get into a zen when I hone and everything gets acute. I still use some of the tests to see where the edge is, especially along the full length, but I am moving away form it. Now it's mostly the award for completing the step.

While you are honing watch the way the water moves at the edge during each stroke and how it changes. Also listen to the sounds the blade makes as you move it across the hone. The sound changes. The feel of the blade as it moves across the hone also changes as the edge is refined. When flipping the blade for the reverse stroke the sound and feel also changes. Note where any or all of these are when you perform your tests. When you think you have it down don't perform the tests until you think the signals say it's time. In time you won't need the TNT and TPT or HHT, but they will always be fun.

I usually listen to archived editions of the Diane Rehm show or To the Point while I am honing. The ones I didn't get a chance to hear real time. I have tinnitus and I couldn't hear the sound of the razor on the hone if I had my ear next to it. The birds are chirping too loudly.

I have also noticed the similarity of honing to Zen meditation and I do sometimes get into that mode. I think the counting is what does it for me. When I fooled around with meditation I used to count exhalations. I do watch the water and the way it flows up the blade. I have found that for me it is an indication of progress but for now I still like the tests.

I'm just after starting with straights, but TPT should feel like theres a cling, you should never feel like your skin is being cut. Pretend that theres rib of hair on the blade that you wanted to roll along the blade without cutting it.