Thread: Honing Mistakes?

The honing mistake I made the most, and still do, although only twice a year or so lately, is called "wishful thinking".
All pointers say that the edge is not ready for finishing, or stropping, or test shaving, or whatever, but I do so anyway. Expecting some miraculous way of everything falling into place. It never does. You could throw all parts required to build an engine from the top of a building, and never they would fall "accidentally" into place and deliver a working engine. But still, every now and then, I find myself doing the razor-sharpening version of that behavior.

PS. I'm probably going to stir the pot with this... but flipping over the spine is not slower. Not in terms of trajectory, and certainly not in terms of ergonomics. It's probably the best way for learning how to hone fast without being counterproductive. (honing fast is not required, but using methods that require many laps, I like it ) Trying to speed up, is very likely to invite you to start an occasional stroke before the razor is fully flipped. Flipping it over the spine, there's not harm in that. But turning otherwise, starting too early will throw in the proverbial monkey wrench.
However unnatural it may feel to muscle memory at first, it does become second nature after a while.

Best regards,
Bart.

I am guilty of wishful thinking too!

Re: flipping the razor. I've never had the ability to flip it on it's side without fumbling with my grip on the turn (irrespective of the grip I'm trying). That's where the slow/uncomfortable comment comes from. I'm not trying to go fast necessarily, but the inability get into a rhythm makes the process much more time consuming than flipping it on the other side.

Fortunately, I've not messed up an edge doing this, but I know it's probably just a matter of time... Good thing is, I can bring it back. Honing is almost as fun as shaving, you know...

Originally Posted by Bart

I'm probably going to stir the pot with this... but flipping over the spine is not slower. Not in terms of trajectory, and certainly not in terms of ergonomics. It's probably the best way for learning how to hone fast without being counterproductive.
Flipping it over the spine, there's no harm in that. But turning otherwise, starting too early will throw in the proverbial monkey wrench.
However unnatural it may feel to muscle memory at first, it does become second nature after a while.

Best regards,
Bart.

I'm with Bart on this one. Not to be facetious guys, but how is flipping on the spine difficult to nail down? Aren't you doing just that while stropping (just a reverse movement from honing)?

Hey, whatever works for you and all that, but I just have to ask.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I'm with Bart on this one. Not to be facetious guys, but how is flipping on the spine difficult to nail down? Aren't you doing just that while stropping (just a reverse movement from honing)?

Hey, whatever works for you and all that, but I just have to ask.

I've wondered that myself. The only thing I can think of is that the edge trailing when stropping makes the difference in my hands... I don't know, but I didn't give up on the spine flip stroke after a week or two. I went months without being flip the razor on its spine without fumbling around with it in my hand... This is the point of the thread, btw: admitting the rules that we break... I know it's not "right", so let's not debate the issue.

Originally Posted by richmondesi

I've wondered that myself. The only thing I can think of is that the edge trailing when stropping makes the difference in my hands... I don't know, but I didn't give up on the spine flip stroke after a week or two. I went months without being flip the razor on its spine without fumbling around with it in my hand... This is the point of the thread, btw: admitting the rules that we break... I know it's not "right", so let's not debate the issue.

Paul do you hold the hone in your hand or is it on a surface?????

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Paul do you hold the hone in your hand or is it on a surface?????

Oh.. good question. I started out using a stone holder, but recently discovered that my fear of my natural tremor was unfounded and now I hold it in my hand... That may change my comfort in flipping the razor... I need to try that

Exactly also how you position the stone on a surface or in your hand can change life...

Looking at the "top" of the stone for a right handed person it can go from 12:00 straight up to 3:00 straight sideways Adjust the stone and the stroke so that it is comfortable first,,, then make sure your elbow is level and it should work...

Speed is an opinion too BTW there are some that believe a 1-2 second stroke is the best (8 in hone) and others like Bart that speed hone...
I have no opinion either way and probably fall in the both catagory...
I also fall in the both catagory on one hand-vs-two hands...
and in the "on a surface" or "in the hand" for the stone...

One should never assume just because it works for them on that razor, on that stone, that it is "Right"

Hence back to my original post in this thread "Dude I "planned "it that way"

Flipping on the spine while stropping is easier (slightly) because you can hold the tang stationary, which allows a slight lever action on the blade, flipping it with momentum into the correct position naturally. Flipping on the spine when honing actually requires you to counter this momentum. It's not much momentum, so once you get the motion down it's unnoticeable, but while learning it can often make attempts to reverse while honing awkward.

Well as long as we all end up with sharp razors and good shaves lets say to hell with it and if it aint broke why fix it!

I use two findgers as I feel I can guide it and control the balde so much more.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Exactly also how you position the stone on a surface or in your hand can change life...

Looking at the "top" of the stone for a right handed person it can go from 12:00 straight up to 3:00 straight sideways Adjust the stone and the stroke so that it is comfortable first,,, then make sure your elbow is level and it should work...

Speed is an opinion too BTW there are some that believe a 1-2 second stroke is the best (8 in hone) and others like Bart that speed hone...
I have no opinion either way and probably fall in the both catagory...
I also fall in the both catagory on one hand-vs-two hands...
and in the "on a surface" or "in the hand" for the stone...

One should never assume just because it works for them on that razor, on that stone, that it is "Right"

Hence back to my original post in this thread "Dude I "planned "it that way"

Ok.. Quick update:

I tried it again with the stone at approximately 1:30 or 2 o'clock and in my hand... much better. Not quite as comfortable, but I feel that I could learn to do this... I did find myself flipping it the "wrong" way some, but the speed and comfort was not all that much different. I will probably work on changing this because the risk that I could damage an edge is worth trying to make an adjustment even before I actually do any damage.

Specific to the two finger issue: Sometimes yes, sometimes no... depends on the circumstances, but either is as comfortable as the other to me...