Thread: Alternative to Lynn's pyramid?

Hi,

I was wondering if there were alternatives to Lynns pyramid and how most people hone their razors?

I'm really grateful for Lynn sharing his methods with us, he's a hero in my eyes as i have used his pyramid with sucess, but I can't help but thinking the pyramid is not required. Why do 25 strokes on the 4K and then polish out with 25 strokes on the 8K just to go back to the 4K for 20 strokes and scratch it all up again?

I guess what i am getting at is why polish in between the 4K sets?

Maybe 50 strokes on the 4K followed by 50 strokes on the 8K would be better and use less total strokes than the standard pyramid?

Does anyone have an alternative method, such as 30x4K, 40x8K, 20xcoticule?

Just thinking out loud here........

Yes there are progressive honing methods. Here is an archived post by Glenn with his method.

Awesome! Just what I wanted. Thanks Jimmy!

I've always preferred the idea of progressive honing to the idea of using a pyramid. I like the idea of moving from each stage to the next, using each stone once, without having to go back. But, when I used my Norton 4k/8k, I honestly always got better results when using the pyramid! I think either method will get you there, but it really does seem that the pyramid method is more fool proof and newbie friendly.

Make sure you read that whole thread for a complete understanding of what was going on in that instance....

What you are looking for is what is called the "Progressive" method and I did not invent it...
There are a multitude of threads and also some more info in the Wiki to read through...

In the simplest form, you set the bevel then progressively improve the edge by going up in grit....

The downside is that you have to know when to move up in grit and when to stop honing.... This is why we normally call the progressive method a slightly more advanced way of getting to a sharp razor... We don't mean the method is more advanced, we mean that the honester should be a little more advanced, so they can "read" the edge through the progressions....

Your questions have been asked for years........Only answer is that it works........

It really is an incremental method/process that can be varied to taste and produce pretty consistent results.

Take a look at the webcams from Glen and I at the NC Gathering and you will get a great look at alternative methods, all the way from setting the bevel to finishing.

Lynn

I wanted to say what i think about this method.
if you think scientifically it shouldn't work.
At first when i come SRP (3years ago i think) this is what i thought. how someone can go to sharpens 8k then go back to 4k then again go back to 8k so on. doesn't make sense right?
Until i did test it myself. I saw the result and change my mind. Now do i use it every day this method to get my blades shave ready ? no i don't .Not because of it doesn't work because i am lazy and have hones which will do the job a lot faster and i can save time.
But if you have only 1 norton 4/8 k this is the

EXCELLENT METHOD

to go and you will be very happy with it.
That method comes after honing 1000+++razor's that is why it works.

My advise to anyone Before doubts( i don't mean Bobbo) about any method Please try it at first ,see results.
Lastly i have said early Guys please when Lynn post message about that pyramid method read every single words from message. Example if you put pressure on the blade and try to get blade honed with Pyramid method you will be in big trouble.That blade will not get where you want to be.
To hone blade right it is not just the knowledge + experience required. Someone needs to hone razor at least every day for a 6 months and have willing to learn then that person will get the great edge without unnecessary removing blade.
i hope this will help instead of Confusing.

When I first came around to SRP there were some posts with guys arguing that the pyramid wasn't as good as the progressive method and vice versa. I had Lynn's DVD and went with the pyramid method and it worked for me.

Six months later I was talking with a noted razor maker on the phone about honing and he said,'you know you don't need to do that, you can just stay on the 4k until it is ready and move on to the 8k. That pyramid thing is for beginners.'

I didn't pay any attention to that because the pyramid method worked so well. I don't know why it works scientifically but I know how to do it to get a razor shaving smoothly.

As Sham said above when a man who has honed thousands of razors with the method continues to use it there must be something to it.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Take a look at the webcams from Glen and I at the NC Gathering and you will get a great look at alternative methods, all the way from setting the bevel to finishing.

Where are the NC Gathering videos located? Is it "Straight Razor Place '09 Convention - Lynn" at Honing videos - Straight Razor Place Wiki ??

Thanks,
Kent

Originally Posted by keenedge

Where are the NC Gathering videos located? Is it "Straight Razor Place '09 Convention - Lynn" at Honing videos - Straight Razor Place Wiki ??

Thanks,
Kent

Here it is.