Thread: I'm a slow learner.

I am a slow learner. last night I learned a lesson that I should have learned a long time ago. When using a finishing stone, do just five laps and then put the razor down and walk away.

I used to give in to the nagging thought that if five laps is good, then more must be better. Doesn't work that way. I have found the hardest part of razor honing is knowing when to leave well enough the hell alone.

5 laps then walk away? Why not 5 laps then check your edge? I say hone till you're satisfied the edge is sharp and polished.

Originally Posted by stimpy52

5 laps then walk away? Why not 5 laps then check your edge? I say hone till you're satisfied the edge is sharp and polished.

Every blade is different and has different needs, this is the way to go when finishing.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Every blade is different and has different needs, this is the way to go when finishing.

+1 excellent point.+every finishing stone is different too.gl

I should clarify what I said above. I'm not very good at interpreting edge tests. I can hone a razor so that it will cut off arm hairs at just a touch, which would be great if this was what the razor was meant for, but it's not. The only test I can really quantify the results is the shave test. For me that is with full prep and lather. Or else I'm not really certain how the edge will perform.

In the past I have done five laps on a finishing stone, then being unable to do a full shave test, I would give it a couple more laps just for good luck. The best results I have had lately are when I do just five laps on the finishing stone and then put it down.

If the shave wasn't that great I would go back to the hones the next day.

Lynn may be able to hone many razors in one day, but I would rather take many days to hone one razor and get it right.

Don't feel bad, my weakness is NOS & restored blades. I have a tough time getting the edge "perfect" the first time, every time. I try to take the minimalist approach since I hone sans tape, so there are times I don't go long enough on the cutting stones setting the bevel. I reconfirmed this on a couple NOS razors that I am adding to my rotation, a Case & Dorko. They shave, but aren't quite right... I'll probably give them both another shave to know exactly how far back I'll have to go.

I have no problem bringing a egde back on a dulled shaver though. I just hate having to "redo" a freshly honed razor, gives me a sense of failure & who likes failure?

Nathan
please tell us what stones do you use? what is your finishing stone?

If you can, why not hone right before you shave? Time might be a problem, though. Especially if you shave in the morning. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Nathan
please tell us what stones do you use? what is your finishing stone?

I use a Naniwa 3000/8000 and for a finishing stone I use a Sharpton 12000. On a Taylor's Eye Witness that wasn't shaving well, I recently gave it 15 laps on the 3000, another 15 on the 8000 and five on the 12000. That made it a lot easier to handle.

I'm a slow learner too. I'm going to try and describe what I do. I think of these tips as honing strategies. Honing is, for the most part, just a "muscle memory" repeated effectively, but . . .


I circular hone on the finish stone, then finish with several strokes, keeping count as I go, and work toward a maximum number to achieve the highest possible sharpness. If I go too far I circular hone again setting the edge back to a consistent baseline, then sharpen again. This time I do fewer strokes than the last time, stopping just shy of where I landed the last time.