Thread: Honing a wedge

I usually hone a wedge at a 45 degree angle on the Norton when doing the X pattern vs. keeping the razor at 90 degrees or perpendicular across the stone. One problem with these is that many have been poorly ground and you have an uneven spine and edge which may need correction or re-grinding first. Lynn

Originally Posted by adjustme69

I usually hone a wedge at a 45 degree angle on the Norton when doing the X pattern vs. keeping the razor at 90 degrees or perpendicular across the stone. One problem with these is that many have been poorly ground and you have an uneven spine and edge which may need correction or re-grinding first. Lynn

Just how would you maintain the 45 deg angle? I know there are some products that hold knives at the correct sharpening angle, but that doesn't seem appropriate for a razor. That and also I'm good, but my wrists and elbows just aren't exactly calibrated to hold at an exact angle!

The 45 Deg. is the angle at wich you lay the razor on the hone flat, not the angle at which the razor makes contact with the hone.

So lay the razor with the spine perfectly flush with edge of the hone, this would be 90 Deg.; half that angle would be 45 Deg.

The razor still lays flat on the hone, just make the heel leed more, so that you maintain that ~45 Deg. angle

Clear as mud?

Ohhhhhhh Man do I feel stupid. I read that and was also wondering how you held the razor at 45 degrees. Well live and learn.

Got you beat. Ive been trying to hone it at a 45 degree angle. Even used those wedge paper clips. and doing the sharpie test to check my progress.Not going so well till now. Ahhh its about leading with the heel to be at the correct angle. Why didnt somebody just say that....

did you just read through 8 years of discussion about honing a wedge blade to finaly find your answer in 2006 ??

Some folks are a little slow. But yes I finally got it. Heres the thing Now you have documentation that somebody was actually in the Library, Reading and obviously rereading till it clicked for them.This resource if used properly can be a wealth of information. This is a little more than rub rock on stone,shave. Even videos lack so many of the ideosyncrasies that only a honemeister with a attentive student can pass on.
I was told that a Good teacher can say, something in a multitude of ways until the students brain can comprehend it.
Some people learn by reading,some by seeing,some by doing, some by a combination.
My first WB isnt like any other blade,Thanks for this site.
Thanks to all those who post who say things in a different terminology .

Originally Posted by adjustme69

I usually hone a wedge at a 45 degree angle on the Norton when doing the X pattern vs. keeping the razor at 90 degrees or perpendicular across the stone. One problem with these is that many have been poorly ground and you have an uneven spine and edge which may need correction or re-grinding first. Lynn

Why do you do that? Do you lead with the heel?