Thread: Is honing mentally tiring?

I'm sure it's worse because it's new to me, but after I hone a razor, which can take me up to two hours, I feel like I've put in a full day at work. Not physically mind you, but mentally fatigued.

Does anyone else ever feel like this?

mentally i find it relaxing it's physically that gets me because my table is to low to do it comfortably. I plan on making a little stand for the hone to raise it to the right hight though.

Originally Posted by BlacknTan

I'm sure it's worse because it's new to me, but after I hone a razor, which can take me up to two hours, I feel like I've put in a full day at work. Not physically mind you, but mentally fatigued.

Does anyone else ever feel like this?

It is like anything that requires your full attention at first.
Just hone with light pressure and limit your time to
less than an hour.

No one razor touch up "should" take too long
so budget your time and eventually you will
begin to smooth out.

Honing is like any other "Art" in that it takes concentration and a calm mind. As you get fatigued be it physically or mentally the concentration becomes more erradic, causing erradic results, that you put more effort into controling, thus causing more fatigue and the downward spiral continues.

When you start feeling frustrated or tired, take a break. Do something else for a while or put the stones away for the day. Asyour edges and skills build you will find it takes ALOT less time to hone than it used to. Walking away from the stones now and again also clears the mind a bit and you can pick it up later, with fewer slip up that take up more time to fix.

So never try to force your way threw a blade, it will be more taxing that way, and take allot longer to finish.

Just my thoughts on it

At the Western NY Meet yesterday we all agreed that, in fact, honing is sort of a hypnotic, tranquilizing activity. Cheaper and more effective than a shrink. It almost made me forget that everyone was staring at me.

All you need is a repeatable stroke. Once that is well practiced and understood all the mental challenge disappears. At that point it's more like watching a machine do the work for you.

Originally Posted by stimpy52

... honing is sort of a hypnotic, tranquilizing activity. Cheaper and more effective than a shrink. ....

I agree! i don't mind coming home after a grueling day and spending some times on the hones. I find it quite relaxing. Some good tunes playing quietly, a couple a drinks of rum... Not saying nothin' to no one... just being the hone. *kidding* It is surely zen like though.

What's up with that? Do we really hypnotize ourselves? Is it possible to enter a trance state while honing? The concept's a little meta-physical for me, but my curiosity is piqued. Wonder if it would work to quit smoking? Hone instead!

well think about monks they just repeat the same chant to meditate as far as I now at least. So If this is true any repetitive action could be zen like. Think of all the times people drive home from work get in there driveway and think how did I get here.

It was that way at first for me, too. Now, it's among the most relaxing things I do. The minute that I get fatigued or distracted, I put down everything down and do something else for a while. It's been a long time since I have felt mentally drained though.

I found it to be reminiscent of Zen because when I used to meditate I counted exhalations. Now I count strokes. Like others have mentioned if I find it frustrating or grow tired I put it away.

Sone of my honing is stop and go. Hone for awhile, look at the forum for awhile. Sometimes I go straight through and sometimes I don't. I try to keep it enjoyable. I have run into razors that wore me out. Particularly early on.