Thread: Using the norton 4KX8k

Superfly,

I found that to be the case at first too, but after practicing with my barber hones for long hours, I can now hold a Norton in my hand without discomfort. This leads me to believe that a lot of the cramping and discomfort is not so much the weight of the hone, but largely due to being unaccustomed to all the sublte movements involved when hand holding it.

Hal

Superfly, don't feel guilty about using your hone sitting on a table top. While conventional barber hones are a bit small for this technique, the Norton's, Belgians and Arkansas stones are not. You can get the same results holding the hones in your hand, on your lap or leg, or resting it on a table...strictly personal preference. You even gain a bit more consistency by using a table top unless you hone almost every day. I have used a table top for years, because if I cut my fingers, I can't play music for a week! But I don't use the 5" barber hones. Mostly I use stones 8 to 12 inches in length. Holding the blade with both hands however can present some problems. It is very difficult to keep the same pressure with each hand, usually resulting in uneven honing. That is one of those things that definitely gets better with practice. I think that the one handed approach to honing is more consistent when you are starting out, but that is just my opinion.

If you wanna see a nice depiction of the correct honing on a Norton, look at Randy's avatar. Lynn

Lynn, the Randy's avatar is showing small width hone, where you are forced to do the X pattern Anyways, i cant see it moving.

String, When holding the razor woth both hand, i usually hold with right hand, and with the ingex finger of my left i keep enogh pressure for the blade not to tip over (to stay flat on the stone).

My razor cuts the hair, and slices the arm hair without pulling, but its not comfortable for shaving. I have one Dublduck Satinedge in the mail from David, i hope its shave ready, so i will compare, and hopefuly find the way to sharpen my DOVO ss blade.

Superfly, I often use both hands myself when honing. I meant to just point out that it takes so little pressure to make a huge difference in the honing stroke that you have to be careful. You can especially see it if you have a blade that is just warped a few millimeters. It takes practically no pressure at all to push the warped section of the edge down flat on the stone. I sometimes spread my fingers along several places on the blade, to more evenly disperse the pressure when pushing the blade along over the hone. Experience is the best teacher here. Find what works for you.
As to finishing up an edge for a comfortable shave....the stropping is so key here. Very few members here can hone a razor to supreme sharpness without the aid of finishing with a strop and good stropping technique. That skill can make or break an otherwise excellent honing job. Very small differences in technique, both in honing and stropping, make a very big difference in final results. Just keep working at it, and it will all click for you soon enough.

Hello superfly,

It does not matter what width of hone you have, always use the X pattern. I am saying this because it has become the defacto standard honing movement for most of us. It also seems to get the best resullts.

In the files section, honing, the last item depicts a proper X pattern. Check it out.

Secondly, I have seen many razors with an uneven wear pattern on the shoulder of the blade. This is due to using your fingers on the blade while honing. This translates into an uneven wear on the edge of the blade. You then have to use exactly the same pressure and the same pressure points each time you hone the blade. And that is very difficult to do.

When you are honing your thumb and first finger should be on the shank of the blade and your little finger acts as a lever to keep the full length of the blade on the hone. It does take practice but it comes quickly.

Hope this helps,