Thread: Critique My Honing Method!

don't know if your technique is perfect, but you're most certainly the best dressed honers out there :P
If the bevel is properly set, a few pyramids followed by a finishing stone should bring it right up to where it was before.

From what I've heard, the 12k is extremely slow and requires lots of passes like close to 100 passes.

Originally Posted by Dups

From what I've heard, the 12k is extremely slow and requires lots of passes like close to 100 passes.

I am going to follow this video up with me honing in a mustard stained wife beater

Thanks for sharing that video. I think many people will benefit from it. I sometimes have similar problems. Have you tried placing the hone parallel to your body (E-W instead of N-S)? It might be easier to control the razor (keeping it level). I know people do it both ways though, so if it works for you, stick with it.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I am going to follow this video up with me honing in a mustard stained wife beater

I dress well in shaving videos to make a point that not all shaving related videos need to be homoerotica with nudie boys

"Not going to get l**d on the channel."


I liked your running commentary, as it made the time go faster. Your x-stroke looks fine to me. It's clear that you are using a light stroke. Your comments indicate that you have learned a lot. As far as how to get the razor sharper, you already mentioned the bevel. It's possible that you're not quite there yet. Either try the aggressive pyramid or just do maybe 30 strokes on the 4k alone followed by another conservative pyramid.

I am completely dependent upon my stereomicroscope for edge assessment. It's a crutch I know, but it allows me to know exactly how my honing is going and it ensures that I don't waste time going up to higher grits until I have that bevel fully set.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the towel. I know that's how Lynn does it in his video but the towel is drawing water out of the hone and it has lint on it. Also, and really the only criticism I can think of, you are not clearing the 4k residue off of your blade before going back to the 8k. I don't recall if Lynn does that in his video or not, but I dip my razor into a plastic tumbler filled with water to rinse the 4k residue off before going to the 8k. I rarely do pyramids, but when I do, I only rinse when going from a more coarse to a finer grit and not in the other direction. That is, rinse after the 4k but not after the 8k when doing the pyramids.

Then again, it might be the cufflinks that are throwing off your balance!

I think you are off to great start as your video clearly shows how much you have learned. The sharp razors will come soon enough!

A few things I've noticed.

Granted, Iam not an expert honer or am I claiming to be ...

Of course, I mean no offense to anyone.

That being said ... here goes ...

Your form looks ok. I'll give you a solid 8.5, mainly due to the tie.

I think it's the grit progression you are using.

I've found that some blades really benefit from the pyramid method and some dont.

I do use the pyramid, sure... mainly for the necessary touchup after a few months of use.

IMHE, I've gotten the most sucess from the pyramid in this manner.

Try more laps on the 4k. You should be able to pass the hand 'shave' test off of the 4k before moving through the grits. The higher grits polish. while the 4k sharpens.


Great video, btw.

I thought your tecnique looked very good. Have you watched the heavy duty honing video it is realy good he holds his honein his hand i do exactly that and i find it much easier. I found my heals just did'nt get sharp i use slight roll most of the time. I would just stay on the 4k untill hole egde feel sahrp alter your stroke to rolling method if need be use black marker test once tpt is fairly god go 8k and then 100 ch12k strop and you wil get a good shave

I dress well in shaving videos to make a point that not all shaving related videos need to be homoerotica with nudie boys

Sorry, had to look that word up and after reading the definition, I couldn't bring myself to watch your video.