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.

Originally Posted by xman

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

Briandonofrio sharp te razor not in a X.....how do you using the pyramid please??? Is the video of Briandonofrio not good??

The video is fine but it fails to teach you whats really happening. You don't have to use the X pattern but it helps. Initially you should use an angle or an X. I prefer to angle intially so the entire bevel gets sharp. Later, with an extra light touch the x pattern is the best method, especially with a smaller hone. Pyramiding is the principle of using the 4,000 grit (or any other low number) in conjuntion with the 8,000 grit in an alternating pattern usually like 1 pass on the 4,000 followed by 3 on the 8,000 then returning to the 4,000. This allows the blade to get sharp faster than wasting time polishing an edge with the 8,000 which is not capable of shaving sharpness anyway. Typically you would test shave often with this process because you'll get success quickly and you don't want to overhone. Pryamiding is a simple process and yet brilliant. Don't forget to test shave often.

I suggest you use a light touch and the x pattern and roll the blade over on its spine when honing. First passes on 4k and then 8k, alternating until you have a sharp blade. Keep the blade flat, keep the angle the same for each side, use equal pressure on each side, and ensure the blade travels the same distance on each side for each grit. Make sure the blade "lands" on the hone gently when you flip it on its back.

Also, you need to do some more reading and research. Look at the 1961 Barbers manual and it explains honing in a very easy to understand text. Also read through the posts more.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

The video is fine but it fails to teach you whats really happening. You don't have to use the X pattern but it helps. Initially you should use an angle or an X. I prefer to angle intially so the entire bevel gets sharp. Later, with an extra light touch the x pattern is the best method, especially with a smaller hone. Pyramiding is the principle of using the 4,000 grit (or any other low number) in conjuntion with the 8,000 grit in an alternating pattern usually like 1 pass on the 4,000 followed by 3 on the 8,000 then returning to the 4,000. This allows the blade to get sharp faster than wasting time polishing an edge with the 8,000 which is not capable of shaving sharpness anyway. Typically you would test shave often with this process because you'll get success quickly and you don't want to overhone. Pryamiding is a simple process and yet brilliant. Don't forget to test shave often.

I suggest you use a light touch and the x pattern and roll the blade over on its spine when honing. First passes on 4k and then 8k, alternating until you have a sharp blade. Keep the blade flat, keep the angle the same for each side, use equal pressure on each side, and ensure the blade travels the same distance on each side for each grit. Make sure the blade "lands" on the hone gently when you flip it on its back.

Also, you need to do some more reading and research. Look at the 1961 Barbers manual and it explains honing in a very easy to understand text. Also read through the posts more.

Where can i find the "barbers manuel" please?