Thread: Honing Technique

This is for all those honemeisters out there.

I was just looking at the Nassrasur web site and noticed a honing technique used by Norbert Schick that looked very different. He is using a Norton 4X8K and his strokes are not in an X pattern except at the very end on the 8K. He begins on a 90 degree angle and simply pushes the blade straight up the stone, turns it over and brings the other side straight down the hone. At the very end of the clip he follows an X pattern on the 8k side just before going to the leather strop.

Because I am trying to learn how to consistently hone my own razors, what is the benefit of such a technique? Have any of you tried this and found it to work?

I have a Norton 4X8k

jmsbcknr

Can you put a link to this video? I can't find it

I think the main reason for the X pattern is because most hones that have been historically used were very small and you had to use this pattern to sharpen the entire blade. I know my Norton three inch fits the entire blade and I don't use the X pattern. I just go straight up and straight down and I get very good results.

Originally Posted by superfly

Can you put a link to this video? I can't find it

http://www.nassrasur.com/norbert/norbert.html. Select the videos. jmsbcknr

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I think the main reason for the X pattern is because most hones that have been historically used were very small and you had to use this pattern to sharpen the entire blade. I know my Norton three inch fits the entire blade and I don't use the X pattern. I just go straight up and straight down and I get very good results.

thebigspendur,

Do you angle the blade, ie heel or toe forward or do you simply push the blade forward straight. Do you see a need for angled scratch marks?

jmsbcknr

Right now I lead with the toe. I think that having angled scratch marks is a good thing. jmsbcknr

Wrong. I lead with the heal. Was thinking heal and typed toe. Duh............

I push the blade straight up and down. The only caveat is the last few strokes on the operation I will use the X pattern. Don't ask me why. maybe old habits die hard. I was taught this way.

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 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.