Thread: Honing Epiphany

So after I wrote my 1 year anniversary post this afternoon I got thinking about all the trouble I had with honing a couple of the razors. I was thinking about what I was doing and how it could be wrong. Suddenly it was like a diving light in my brain went off and I couldn't wait for the work day to end.

Much to my wife's dismay I headed straight up stairs when I got home and broke out the gear. I went slow since I was doing something different and a couple hours later I have 2 razors that were previously pains in the rear to a level of sharpness that I have never attained with these 2. All indications are that they are truely sharp and truely smooth. Unfortunately I shaved this morning so couldn't really test them on my face but the hair on my arm just flowed off.

So what was I doing wrong? In an effort to make sure I didn't screw up I was focusing too much on the spine. I was honing the spine instead of the edge. So tonight I made a conscience effort to concentrate on the edge and use the spine as a guide. So up until tonight I was pushing the edge down the stone and after tonight I am pulling the spine down the stone if that makes sense(edge still leading of course). Ever so slight of a change had a major effect on the outcome.

I am not sure I will be able to muster up enough facial hair to shave tomorrow so thursday is the day.

I kinda know what you mean; I had the same sort of epiphany with stropping. I started thinking about pushing the spine into the leather, and not necessarily about dragging the edge. My stropping is much improved, and my face is thankful.

Congrats on your realization!

Sounds good. Do update on how the shave turns out on Thursday.

Hmmm. Something like this?

Randydance once described it very well in one of the multitudes of honing threads, and that description always stuck in my brain...

"You need to make sure that the torque of the stroke is toward the edge" or words very close to that..

My statement has always been to watch the ripple of water at the edge as you hone, just so long as it is always there, you are doing fine...

I found tape does help with that slight torque towards the edge. No idea why, it just does for me..!

It also keeps the bevels really small, which I like.

I also watch that ripple Takes a bit of time to figure out what your looking at but once you see it you'll know what that edge is doing

I think the idea in the OP that is you can hold the spine against the hone as snug as you want and still have complete control on the pressure at the edge by adjusting the torque. I use the same technique when stropping. So when stropping or honing you can hold the spine against the surface snuggly and vary the force on the extreme edge independently.

When I try to finish up on the hones with extreme light strokes I have difficulty maintaining contact. But with this idea I think it would work better. Two seperate actions: One is a force on the spine holding it against the hone, The other is a torque or twist that levers the edge against the hone. Thinking of it this way allows you to make very subtle changes in the edge pressure without losing contact with the surface at the spine.

It is really hard to explain... I would say it is more a combination off everything that was posted. But anyway, it's thursday!

Setup-

C&E brush
Mama Bears Spellbound Woods soap
AoS branded TI razor & American Eagle spike point(made in Germany)

Lathered up and took a swipe with each razor to get an idea. Both were smooth and sharp so I put the spike point down and will use it next time. Finished the shave off with the TI that has been nothing but headaches to get that truely finished edge on. I have used the razor a lot in sub par sharpness so I think I actually need to relearn how to shave with it. It is very sharp from toe to heal but better yet it is finally smooth. It is a heavier grind and much wider blade than the Fredrick Reynolds blades that I have so it has a bit of a different feel and cutting characteristic but I think it is really close or even equally as sharp and smooth.

I got a full shave without any pulling which is a definite first for this razor. I might give it a couple more laps on the finishing stone just to see if I can push it a touch further but it is acceptable now.

I finally feel that I can be self sufficient in my sharpening I am quite excited!

Now I need to get my hands on a bunch more razors just to practice more... I haven't seen much in the way of antiques lately that seem to be worth the effort. Gonna have to just keep watching I guess.

Originally Posted by DustinW

I finally feel that I can be self sufficient in my sharpening I am quite excited!

Now I need to get my hands on a bunch more razors just to practice more...

Congrats ! Great feeling to finally hone your own to an acceptable level. When you start looking for other blades make sure they are full bladed and try for little or no hone wear. Great fun in getting old razors and bringing them up to speed but be careful. It is addictive IME.