Thread: Jittery, uneven feel to honing stroke, advice needed

I'm in the midst of a struggling period in my honing, which I've been experiencing in varying degrees since April of this year. Consistency is a big issue with my honing, I seem to be either dead on or way off.

The first "symptom" that I'm going into a struggling period with my honing is a change in the feel of my stroke on the stone. Instead of a smooth, even feel of the blade on the stone, I get a feel of uneven resistance, where the razor feels like it is gliding across the stone in some places and catching in others during the length of the stroke. Honing feel is difficult to put into words, but it's like jitter or hesitation in spots during my stroke. When I have this feel, nothing will even get sharp enough to shave arm hair above the skin.

This issue is across multiple razors, and all my stones (except 1K bevel setters), both natural and synthetic. I keep all my stones lapped dead flat, so that isn't it. It's definitely something I'm doing wrong technique-wise.

Does this problem sound familiar to anyone? Can anybody who has experienced this problem at some point help me out and tell me what flaw in my technique could be causing this jittery feel during my stroke?

Thanks!

Tim,
I have a few questions that might be relevant.
What kind of stroke do you do, x-stroke or combination with other kinds?
Do you get that with all strokes that you use or just particular ones?
Also how do you hone? Have you tried to change the honing station/set up, for example change the stone height or your position with respect ti the stone when honing on a table? If you are honing on a table have you tried to hone with stone in hand and vice versa?

I had this same problem and sometimes still do. I am by no means an expert at honing. One thing I feel helps me is to deliberatly go slow. I mean dead slow. This has allowed me to see where in my stroke I was lifting either the heel or the toe of the razor.
When it comes to honing I enjoy the journey just as much as, if not more than, the destination.

Is it like the razor is skipping over something ? I get that sensation when dust ,lint, excess swarf or other random particles are on the stone. I rinse off & its gone.

How do you lap ? Diamond plates or a means that may introduce random particles?
All I can think of.

Are you sure you manage to keep the razor flat on the hone, you do not accidentally lift it one way or the other?

Rounding the edges of the hone helps as well.

Occasionally an unevenness of the spine or cutting edge causes this to happen as well.

You need to be aware that even synthetic hones are not 100% uniform. You always have areas of higher density cutting particles vs. areas with a higher density of matrix. Sometimes the matrix of the hone is less dense in one area than the other. You can check for the latter by spraying a very small amount of water on the stone. In areas where the matrix is less dense you will find the hone absorbs the moisture immediately making it look drier than areas with a denser matrix.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the replies so far. Personal issues have kept me from having time to respond before now.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Tim,
I have a few questions that might be relevant.
What kind of stroke do you do, x-stroke or combination with other kinds?

Yes, I use X-strokes on higher grits. I generally use circles at lower grits, with 10 final X-strokes after the circles. I experience the issue at 8K and above - on things like a Naniwa 8K, Coticule, and Japanese naturals.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Do you get that with all strokes that you use or just particular ones?

I only use X-strokes on the higher grits where I get this issue.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Also how do you hone? Have you tried to change the honing station/set up, for example change the stone height or your position with respect ti the stone when honing on a table? If you are honing on a table have you tried to hone with stone in hand and vice versa?

For above 8K, I use hand-held honing. But at least I'm consistent, I feel the same jitter sensation when bench honing too. Maybe a little more prominently when bench honing.

This jitter is not constant, it comes and goes. But the bad results when I feel it are consistent.

I don't know how much help this will be, but...

I have experienced something similar when using my Asagi. I know on that hone that when the edge is dead on, there is even draw, and a fair bit of it. If the edge is giving me draw in some places but not others (which creates that skipping you are describing), it means that my edge is not yet where it should be. The how far off question is not something I know automatically, but I usually have to go back to at least the 5k when this happens.

Tim,
do you mind trying circles followed by a few x-strokes on the high finishers and see if you get more consistent results, this asuming the edge is indeed ready to finish.

Maybe hone away from the edge for a few strokes, then go back to honing blade first. Actually honing away from the blade is an accepted method, though not by many.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

... If the edge is giving me draw in some places but not others (which creates that skipping you are describing), it means that my edge is not yet where it should be. The how far off question is not something I know automatically, but I usually have to go back to at least the 5k when this happens.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Tim,
do you mind trying circles followed by a few x-strokes on the high finishers and see if you get more consistent results, this assuming the edge is indeed ready to finish.

Mentally walking through my honing progression with my most recent problem razor, I think you both are zeroing in on the problem. It's one I have experienced before - I'm rushing to the finishing stage too soon, without getting solid edges in the earlier grits. Patience on the lower grits is honestly not my strong suit. I collect finishing stones, so I am sometimes too inclined to want to get to them too soon to "play."

Thank you for your help with diagnosing this. Going back to 5K did indeed resolve the issue. I will need to pay more attention to this in the future to avoid frustration.