Thread: over honing

What can y do when my straight razor is over honing please? I have honing a straight razor (20 minutes) and it will not sharp. I think that i do an over honing.

Thanx.

The symptoms of an over honned razor is a very rough shave. It's plenty sharp, but your face feels like you just finished your shave with some 80grit sand papper.

Chances are if your having trouble getting the razor sharp its a matter of technique. It takes some time and practice to get a steady, even stroke with the right pressure and even that will change slightly from razor to razor.

If you have in fact over honned the razor, you correct the edge by back honning about 5 strokes on each side and then start your forward stroke honning over again.

Try easing off on the pressure as you get near the end of pyramid honing (you are using the pyramid right?) and try for a gentle rolling of the main point of contact from heel to toe. More pressure will NOT create the shaving edge as likely as less pressure will.

X

Hey Jan,

Be patient. It can take a long time to hone a razor and take months to learn the technique. 20 minutes is a drop in the hat. What kind of hone are you using and have you trued it? What kind of razor is it? Tell us anything you can about where you got it and what you think its made of, carbon, stainless etc. It would be unlikely at this point that it is overhoned. You would have to be pretty good to overhone a razor at this point. It implies that you got it sharp and then just kept going.

Tell us something about your razor. New? What kind?
Used? from Ebay or antique shop? Did you shave with this razor before?
Any name on the razor?
Let us know and we can help you better,

Typically when you overhone a razor, it simply glides over your face without removing any hair. If you have a Norton 4K/8K you can use the X pattern with 5 strokes on each side, then 3 strokes each side followed by one stroke on the 4K and 3 strokes on the 8K twice. Then strop and test. No pressure on the stone and keep the blade very flat. Good luck. Lynn

It seems that everyoneis forgetting to mention the 3-5 "back-honing"(edge trailing) strokes to remove the wire edge followed by 5 regular (edge leading)honing strokes. That removes awire edge usually. Perform those strokes on a 4000 grit then test the edge again. Repeat if necessary.
Follow that up with a small amount of wor on the 8000 hone.

Not forgotten......lol. I tend to look at backhoning as an absolute last resort. Lynn

My first honing was of a new TI 6/8, "Singing" Blade and lasted 2 hours. Shaved like a cheese grater.

The problem was not overhoning but my technique. The edge was just not sharp.

Second honing session lasted over 3 hours and I used a 50x scope to look at the edge every 10 laps or so to give me feedback. I also used the pyramid. I was able to improve my technique and get the razor "sharp". Had a great shave with it. By the way, now if a razor shaves like that first good shave, I take it back to the stones. The ideas of sharp and a good shave evolve as you get more experience.

I have honed about a dozen e-bay specials since then, all with a lot less effort than the first razor.

Now I don't bother using the scope much. I use the pyramid, nail, thumb and hanging hair test. The scope only to view the initial edge to assess its condition.

It takes a lot less time to hone a razor now, about 15 to 45 minutes depending on its initial condition.

Don't give up. The only reason I suceeded on the second honing was because I made up my mind that I would get it sharp or hone it to a stump.

Use the pyramid. I find that it eliminates possibility of a wire edge. You simply get to a point when the edge no longer improves but does not develop a wire. (I could be wrong but this seems to be my observation based on my limited experience).

Originally Posted by vladsch

Use the pyramid. I find that it eliminates possibility of a wire edge. You simply get to a point when the edge no longer improves but does not develop a wire. (I could be wrong but this seems to be my observation based on my limited experience).

I have to disagree. You can develop a wire edge with the pyramid method.
I have done this! And its very easy to do. So, watch your edge.
When viewed under a microscope it will appear as a gold/brown edge on one side of the razor. If you hone it a little bit more then it will start to fall apart and you will see minute nicks in the edge.

My two cents,