Thread: Wiki leaves one question in my mind

I was under the impression that one should start on the 4K side to start off the honing which will sharpen the edge quickly then flip the stone to the 8K side for the later part of the honing which will hone less quickly but produce a finer edge to the blade.

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I was under the impression that one should start on the 4K side to start off the honing which will sharpen the edge quickly then flip the stone to the 8K side for the later part of the honing which will hone less quickly but produce a finer edge to the blade.

It depends on how you are doing it. If you are just doing a progression, then yes.

Stay on the 4k side until you are popping arm hairs, then move to the 8k side.

I was referring to the pyramid method above, which is suppose to be a "fool proof" method of honing.

In my limited honing experience the 2 most import things are: 1) get a good sharp bevel set & 2)light strokes. you may think you have a light stroke, but probably not.

Here is one of glen's thoughts on the progression:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/350008-post3.html

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I'll weigh in with my tests.. Take them for what they are worth, as all tests are a personal read....

1k level the bevel set = pass the TNT easily then a few more light laps and the edge will pop arm hair at the skin level and I mean pop not cut just a touch and the hair is gone....

4k level sharpened = Pass the TPT easily and the edge will pop arm hair above the skin, again it pops the hair I don't have to try and play with the edge...

Yes I have no hair on my left forearm the wife now calls it "Hone Mange"

Above that I don't do any more tests until after the final stropping when I do an HHT with the wife's baby fine hairs... I don't even consider this a real test I do it because I know as soon as somebody gets the blade home they are going to try it ..... The last test is the shave test and really the only one that matters...

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I was under the impression that one should start on the 4K side to start off the honing which will sharpen the edge quickly then flip the stone to the 8K side for the later part of the honing which will hone less quickly but produce a finer edge to the blade.

Exactly. Or, with the norton 4k/8k you can actually do pyramids as described in the wiki, where you flip back and forth between the two sides.

What do you mean by a progression?

Originally Posted by jbcohen

What do you mean by a progression?

A progression is a series of grits used to slowly achieve a final polish. An example of a progression could look something like 1k, 4k, 8k, 12k.

The way Slartibartfast used the word means that you are progressing straight from the 4k to the 8k and not doing pyramids or anything else like that.

Originally Posted by jbcohen

What do you mean by a progression?

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You do realise that it is rather rude to let other people do your searching?