Thread: Definition of Pressure?

Use lighter pressure when using finer finishing hones and heavier pressure when setting a bevel. Your forearm shouln't be cramping or anything. You're removing a very small amount of steel against a stone so there has to be some pressure. The edge gets thinner and thinner as you finish so go lighter and lighter. Use the force.

I am always a believer of less is better both in the number of strokes you use to hone as well as the amount of pressure used. I find that when using the lower grit hones for repair and bevel setting, that I do put a little more pressure on the hone than when I do the actual honing from 4K up to polishing and pasting. Because I sit at a table for stability when I hone, it is easy for me to guage pressure simply by shoulder involvement. If I sit close and have any shoulder involvement there is heavier pressure than when I sit straight and my back it against the chair with my arms in front of me for regular honing with minimum pressure.

The use of two hands on the blade has always been indicative of heavier pressure and whenever watching new guys use this method, it has been easy to identify not only too much pressure, but uneven pressure in the process.

Lynn