Is it possible to over hone with a pasted balsa wood strop?

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03-01-2009, 02:09 AM
ndw76

Is it possible to over hone with a pasted balsa wood strop?

Hi everyone.
I have a question I hope someone can help me with. I recently made myself a pair of balsa wood paddle strops and bought some 1 and .5 micron diamond past to use with them. Once the paste (and some other goodies) arrived in the mail it was like a new toy. I just had to try it out then and there. I planned to do about 20 laps on each, but I may have done a few more in my excitement.
The two razors I did this to were a Dovo and a Bengall. The Bengall seems to be ok, still shaves great. But the Dovo, while it passes the HHT at almost every point on the edge, when I shave with it, it feels like I am shaving with a rusty old cheese grater.
I would like to know is it possible that I have over honed my razor? and if so what can I do about it?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
03-01-2009, 02:20 AM
nun2sharp

Strop it, strop the crap out of it until the edge comes back into line, if this doesnt work you may need to take it back to the stones to refresh the edge. Yes you can over hone, but I think you know that now.
03-01-2009, 03:29 AM
randydance062449

If it is overhoned then it will shave badly and also fail the Thumb Nail Test. It will catch and slip, catch and slip. Try stropping for 100-200 laps then perform the TNT again. If that fails the next step would be to run the edge thru a wooden match stick or balsa wood, cork or other soft wood. Use the TNT to see when the edge is uniform. If that fails to solve the problem then go back to a 4K grit and wear off the edge that is to thin and reestablish the bevel. Use the TNT as your guide.

I hope others will contribute to this thread.:)
03-01-2009, 11:39 AM
2Sharp

I would think that unless you lifted your spine when you were honing on the balsa you did not overhone. Your Bengall is OK so you did that right. So we come to the Dovo which has a ragged edge. I think that it may have not been ready for your diamond pastes. Randy said go back and make sure your bevel is right then proceed to the diamond pastes. I agree. For me diamond pastes leave too rough of an edge so I use CrO on balsa before plain leather.

bj