Thread: Honing Technique

Since the 4000/8000 was not working then the best thing to do is drop back to a coarser stone. You did. Good thinking. Your procedure was correct. What you may want to change is the angle of the blade on the hone.
Why? Because an angled striation(scratch pattern) shaves better.
The angled striations can be achieved by either the X pattern or angling the blade on the stone.....heel leading.

Hope this helps,

Originally Posted by Korndog

I bought a REALLY nice DD Satinedge off eBay last week. I tried several pyramid schemes on the 5/8 waterstones to no avail using x pattern. I then took the bevel to my Shapton pro 2k in a normal straight up and down fashion like the videos. I did the same with 5k,8k, and 15k This is how I sharpen my cutlery btw. I used very slight pressure when trying establish a noticeable fin, and then went ever so lightly thereafter. I will try and shave with it tomorrow, but I am absolutely thrilled to say that I could feel the edge changing throughout my honing and it passed the hanging hair test! Woohoo! Damn thing better shave now.
I wonder if there is some reason not to use this method for all of my blades in the future. Thanks guys.

Success! I got a good shave out of this razor today with no pulling. This was a big step forward. Somehow though, I wouldn't say it was the most COMFORTABLE shave I could get out of it. Nothing obvious; my face just didn't feel great while I was shaving. Not sure why. Still, I am stoked about the development.

Originally Posted by Korndog

Success! I got a good shave out of this razor today with no pulling. This was a big step forward. Somehow though, I wouldn't say it was the most COMFORTABLE shave I could get out of it. Nothing obvious; my face just didn't feel great while I was shaving. Not sure why. Still, I am stoked about the development.

Congratulations! .... Keep on truckin'. It only gets better!

Originally Posted by Korndog

Success! I got a good shave out of this razor today with no pulling. This was a big step forward. Somehow though, I wouldn't say it was the most COMFORTABLE shave I could get out of it. Nothing obvious; my face just didn't feel great while I was shaving. Not sure why. Still, I am stoked about the development.

Update: I decided to try backhoning this edge (DD Satinedge). I gave it three trailing strokes on the fine side of my Keen Kutter Kombination, and five edge leading strokes with no pressure. Stropped and shaved and it was noticeably better than the last time. It was fun using a barbers hone too. Some things just have to come in time, and honig a razor properly seems to be one of them.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

I angle the blade and push it straight down the 3" wide Norton stone . If the stone is 2" or less wide then I use a slight angle and the X pattern.


Just my two cents,

I know this was asked of jmsbcknr earlier, but do you lead with the heal or toe?

Originally Posted by Rik

I know this was asked of jmsbcknr earlier, but do you lead with the heal or toe?

I am using heel leading strokes now, but I actually sharpened the blade on wide waterstones and went straight up and down originally.

Originally Posted by Rik

I know this was asked of jmsbcknr earlier, but do you lead with the heal or toe?

If you want to duplicate the x pattern, it has to be the heel.

I lead with the heel.

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen. This is the way I've been doing it. Just looking for confirmation as to the norm.

just to let you know, i've been reading this thread with interest. i have followed the advice given on my e-bay pakistani special as a trial run and it's come up pretty keen

i was surprised because it really is a piece of s**t!

i found initially that i was having problems by being too slow and carefull - by using slightly faster, more confident strokes i seemed to be getting a better result and could keep the blade flat on the stone in the correct position.

thanks everyone!