Thread: Point me in the right direction...

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Why not purchase the 220/1000 combo? The only reason I have the single grit hones is because I bought them at estate sales.

I agree. You might as well have the extra grit even though you'll never use it on a razor. Maybe you can use it for knives.

Overall, I'm starting to drift away from my Norton. WHen I first staarted it was fine, because I could set it up near at a sink (make a mess) and work on a large group of razors. I also store the Norton dry, so I have to waste time soaking it. Now I get the razors piecemeal, and it's just too much trouble to tolerate the mess of the Norton for a single razor.

I tend to use an extra fine diamond hone (1200) to start the edge on a really dull razor, and I'll use ceramic stones (Spyderco) and barber hones dry, and I make much more use of pasted strops. I have the following set: 6, 3, 1, .5, and .25, which is equivalent to 3K, 8K, 14K, 50K, and 100K. I can do all this in my office at my desk, or in front of the TV sitting in a comfortable chair.

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

Norton ...
an extra fine diamond hone ...
ceramic stones (Spyderco) ...
barber hones dry ...
pasted strops: 6, 3, 1, .5, and .25

Sounds like you can get the job done with that. Especially the pastes.

Originally Posted by xman

Sounds like you can get the job done with that. Especially the pastes.

I sure can. I think I've gone a little overboard on the barber hones. I feel like it's another collection. But then it's an inexpensive one compared to razors, and who knows when a particular hone may come in handy.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Lynn has suggested using a counter-clockwise circular motion on the Norton 4000, using two hands,to work on the bevel and for small nick removal. I have tried that and it does work.

Something like this?

YES!

Love that graphic!

Just be sure to do both sides of the blade.
And the handle on the razor should be angled down 45 degrees or so.

Originally Posted by misj

Something like this?

Actually, my recommendation is one handed only and I have the razor perpendicular to the stone. With the edge facing me, I use counterclockwise strokes and with the edge facing away from me, I use a clockwise stroke. I still do not put much, if any, pressure on the blade when doing this. Hope this helps. Lynn

Originally Posted by adjustme69

Actually, my recommendation is one handed only and I have the razor perpendicular to the stone. With the edge facing me, I use counterclockwise strokes and with the edge facing away from me, I use a clockwise stroke. I still do not put much, if any, pressure on the blade when doing this. Hope this helps. Lynn

Have you ever tried honing with circular strokes from start to finish, on all grits? I was wondering whether this could even work.

What got me thinking is I got a new barber hone from Tilly and it said to use circular strokes if you used it dry but linear strokes if you used it wet or with lather.

I have not found the circular strokes successful from start to finish. I basically am looking to even out an edge and then refine it with the X pattern of honing. After around 4000 razors honed, this is working best for me. I really don't like to use the barber hones. I have around 25 of them, but they are small, awkward to handle and not consistent in grit. I know alot of you experts out there like them, but that's what makes this sport so much fun. Thanks. Lynn

Lynn, Thanks for the clarification on your method.

Now, if someone will make a graphic of that then it can go in the files along with the other excellent graphics that we now have.

Originally Posted by adjustme69

Actually, my recommendation is one handed only and I have the razor perpendicular to the stone. With the edge facing me, I use counterclockwise strokes and with the edge facing away from me, I use a clockwise stroke. I still do not put much, if any, pressure on the blade when doing this. Hope this helps. Lynn

Interesting topic right now. I am noticing that a few people who have sharpened a few razors profess to significant knowledge based on their web reading and knife sharpening days. I have even seen one so called expert say that all he does is sharpen with circles as the X patter wears the heal of his razors down without realizing the problem is him putting pressure on the heal to start with. We also have the debate regarding X pattern vs. dragging a razor down the hone completely straight. We are looking at magnification at 200 power and compraring to manufactured blades. All this is good discussion as honing is absolutely not total science and there can be as much variation as there are in razors. The thing that I have seen the least talked about is the results demonstrated in the actual shave. I would be interested in discussing with anyone who has honed at least 1000 razors, how much experimentation they have done and what has worked best overall......lol. Lynn