newb adventures in honing

So today I had my shaving friend over for our FIRST EVER honing session -- needless to say it was a fun time :) I've visited with X-Man twice to try to learn from his technique but both times I have had him "finish up" the blade for me, so I didn't really do it all myself. This time around, though, he wasn't around (understandably so as he lives across the country from me now)

I tried to recall the pointers he had passed along, and at first all I could really recall was an emphasis on maintaining a similar wrist position regardless of whether you are pulling the blade left or right, and also transitioning the point of focus when sharpening from the heel to the toe to guarantee uniform edge work.

I really didnt' feel like I was applying even pressure so I used one hand to hold the blade against the stone (4 fingers spread along the length of the spine) as I worked the blade across my norton hone. At first I had the distinct impression that I was dulling the blade, but I persevered.. after a little time it felt like I was starting to re-sharpen the blade -- running my thumb perpendicualr to the blade felt sharp. I tried the hanging hair test to no avail and decided to try to shave anyway.

Now, I haven't shaved in nearly 3 weeks.. I trimmed down the excess with an electric clipper and took a shower to prepare for the shave, and I can say without doubt that this is the worst shave I have ever given myself with a a straight. It was SO dull.

going back to try it again, I decided to try to emulate what xmn had taught me as closely as possible -- no fingers along the spine, just my fingers near the pivot pin and applying light and sensitive pressure as I pulled the blade from heel to toe. It was then that I recalled X talking about using his hooked pinky finger to pivot the handle up, thus securing a sure contact against the hone with the blade itself. I also remembered him pouring a little water atop the stone to ensure that it was quite wet at hone time.

With these two refinements, I was able to get the blade to hanging-hair-test capable, and my friend's too. I was sure that it wasn't a fluke because I sharpened both his and my own pblade sharper than the last time he had occasion to use em.

So, X, thanks again.. hopefully I continue to improve ;)

So how'd it shave the second time around? Did your second honing do the trick?

Cool, man. :cool: Glad you retained some of that, just like I retained what Jim The Barber told me 20 years ago. Another very important thing is to keep the pressure very even throughout. This is something I am still wrestling with, but when it stays consistent throughout the pyramid I definitely get the best results. I'm beginning to think it's the single most important part about honing. Not how much or how little pressure although that matters, but how perfectly even is it. Less and more pressure can be compensated for by altering the pyramid, but uneven pressure just doesn't seem to create an edge at all.

X

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Originally Posted by EdinLA44

So how'd it shave the second time around? Did your second honing do the trick?

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I didn't give it a second try yet but tomorrow I may.. I'm trying to space out my shaving because I have yet to replace my strop :P

hey, any know if there would there be any harm in just using a plain old lether belt as a makeshift strop while I wait on deciding which strops to get from tony?

Depends on the belt, most likely no it wouldn't do any harm. Just go for flat and smooth.