Thread: Uneven Honing?

I am trying to set the bevel on a razor I have right now. I am using a Naniwa 2K. Started with 40 circles + 20 laps up and down. The blade from the heel to the heel to the center is sharp and ready to move on, but the blade from the middle to toe is not as keen.

What type of stroke should I do to try to get the toe even with the rest of the blade? Rolling X? Toe leading? Should I just keep the toe of the razor on the hone for a few passes?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Have you put magic marker on the edge and determined that the stroke you are using is effective ? Hitting the edge from heel to point ? If not I would do that for starters. Give the honing section in the 1961 barber manual excerpt a read here. Specifically page 24, Advanced Honing Techniques and give that a try. It could also be that you are nearly there and just need to work on it a bit more. Or it might be something else.

I kind of got impatient and put a little extra pressure for ten or so strokes on the middle to toe. I think that it may have worked. Off of the 2K I can comfortably shave arm hair across the blade. Not trying to get too scientific....if it worked, it worked.

For future reference, I will do the Magic Marker test and read the manual. I do not want to "wing" every razor I hone.

Sorry for replying to my own reply, but assuming that the magic marker test was not passed and the toe was not getting even treatment with the heel, what is the remedy?

Jimmy, do you also use the 'Z' stroke from the manual? Glen mentioned what he calls the pigtail stroke (circular swirl before normal 'X' path). Do you know what the thinking is behind this 'Z' stroke?

Originally Posted by Fbones24

Sorry for replying to my own reply, but assuming that the magic marker test was not passed and the toe was not getting even treatment with the heel, what is the remedy?

In general either a heel leading 45 degree angle to the hone or a rolling x. A stroke that will work to remove the marker showing you are making contact, whatever that stroke is. Modify the x stroke to do it and once you know what it is continue on that particular razor with that stroke.

Originally Posted by pinklather

Jimmy, do you also use the 'Z' stroke from the manual? Glen mentioned what he calls the pigtail stroke (circular swirl before normal 'X' path). Do you know what the thinking is behind this 'Z' stroke?

I haven't seen the "Z" stroke in the manual. Same manual in the link above ? I do the circles as Lynn recommends followed by x strokes. Sometimes I use back and forth strokes along with the circles when setting a bevel and sometimes I don't. Once the bevel is set it is some form of x stroke for me. Sometimes a bit modified for a blade that calls for it but more or less a generic x. I damn sure don't know it all though so if the Z works I would use it too once I figure out what it is.

Originally Posted by Fbones24

I kind of got impatient and put a little extra pressure for ten or so strokes on the middle to toe. I think that it may have worked. Off of the 2K I can comfortably shave arm hair across the blade. Not trying to get too scientific....if it worked, it worked.

For future reference, I will do the Magic Marker test and read the manual. I do not want to "wing" every razor I hone.

Nix the extra pressure. A razor will flex and what you do with pressure
will likely distort the way the razor and hone line up.

For some a firm hand works... but not for me.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Nix the extra pressure. A razor will flex and what you do with pressure
will likely distort the way the razor and hone line up.

For some a firm hand works... but not for me.

I agree with you in general. Most of my honing shows up as a microbevel after some heavy handed newb has tried too hard but by the same token there are cases where a 'little' pressure is useful eg when you are restoring an edge rather than simple honing.