Thread: Having trouble honing

Yesterday I decided to hone a DOVO razor that was starting to pull, so I used the pyramid method starting with 3 strokes on the 4K, 3 strokes on the 8k, and eventually worked it down to the last stage which was one stroke on the 4k and 5 strokes on the 8k. However, I overhoned the edge, and just had to start all over on the 1K because I could just not get the razor sharp. My question is should I just stick to the 8k and my 12k when touching up is needed? Should I buy a 16k stone? Do you have to do a pyramid method with the 8K and the 12K? I just would like to know what techniques you guys use to touch up your razors. Oh and buy the way, I am not interested in using strop paste, I just want to use stones, canvas, and then leather strop.

I use only the highest grit stone available, in the immediate area. I believe you have used too low a grit for a simple touch-up.

I do not have the odd fascination with a variety of high grit hones, rather a fascination with the ability of the person that uses any stone to produce exceptional results.

Originally Posted by conan

...3 strokes on the 4K, 3 strokes on the 8k, and eventually worked it down to the last stage which was one stroke on the 4k and 5 strokes on the 8k. However, I overhoned the edge, and just had to start all over on the 1K...

How did you determine that you overhoned it?

HNSB asked very good question. Overhoning is not easy.
what makes you think this is overhoned blade?
This is what i would do.
go down to 4k and make 50 strokes(please no pressure at all)
then go head do 20 light strokes on 8k
then go head do 10 on 12k
i hope you are talking one set hone example naniwas or norton although i know there is no 12k norton out there.
what i mean don't mix up stones.
let us know how things going.
gl

The reason I think it is overhoned is because I have overhoned a blade on a 1K and I know the feeling using my thumb and most importantly the razor was just gliding over the hair on my arm, not cutting Like it was doing two to three strokes before. I do use a lot of pressure when honoing because that's the only way I can keep the blade flat on the stone. I know Iv'e read that pressure is bad, but in my case it works. I will probabaly just have to do a lot less strokes then you recommend, or do the thumbpad test after one ot two strokes, preventing overhoning.

Originally Posted by conan

The reason I think it is overhoned is because I have overhoned a blade on a 1K and I know the feeling using my thumb and most importantly the razor was just gliding over the hair on my arm, not cutting Like it was doing two to three strokes before. I do use a lot of pressure when honoing because that's the only way I can keep the blade flat on the stone. I know Iv'e read that pressure is bad, but in my case it works. I will probabaly just have to do a lot less strokes then you recommend, or do the thumbpad test after one ot two strokes, preventing overhoning.

Pleas just stop .Don't hone straight razor. As long as you have not learn hone without pressure in my opinion you will never able to get properly honed edge.
This is why i am really sorry there is no reason to guide you wrong direction.
My advise will be send it out.
if you insist then learn honing without pressure.

It's not an easy fix, but IMHO you need to learn the pressure game. I know there are many ways to a sharp edge, but too much pressure is going to cause you problems down the road in terms of bad wear and wire edges etc.

I still have questions about this overhoning... what do you use to indicate if you've overhoned at the 1k level? I agree w/sham (because he knows his stuff waaay more than I do) that it's hard to overhone. Frankly I'm not sure I've ever seen it. I recognize that these guys who have honed literally thousands of razors may have seen many things that I have not, but I think an unset bevel is much more common than an overhoned razor, and this pressure thing is probably wrecking your results as well.

No offense intended, I am just trying to reconcile all of the things I'm hearing.

The way I determined I overhoned the razor was simple. I had a good bevel which was popping hairs of my arm, But being new to honing I did 5 more strokes on the 1K and when I went to pop some more hairs on my arm to see if it got sharper, it just glided on my arm like a butter knife.

Originally Posted by conan

The way I determined I overhoned the razor was simple. I had a good bevel which was popping hairs of my arm, But being new to honing I did 5 more strokes on the 1K and when I went to pop some more hairs on my arm to see if it got sharper, it just glided on my arm like a butter knife.

ok this is not over honing sign.
when you went 1k your edge get dulled and in fact will not pop hairs anymore. that is how your blade should be.
I don't know what stones do you use for sharpening your blade popping hairs will happen example on 4k norton level or 3k japanese diamond hone.
This will differ from person hair edge etc too many factor to count.
you can have turned edge ( i am not sure exact term).
Overhoned edge is very fine edge you will get it after 8k or above level
( Even some people says they can get over honed edge on 1k level in fact that edge is burr edge.)
This is way over honing is arguable question.
Some people will say you can get over honed edge after each grit stone you use.
Some people will say you can overhone edge only after making a lot strokes on fine stones (usually 8k above).
Technically both side could be right.
in fact if you get overhoned edge after 1k level as soon as you move next grit stone example 3 k that problem resolves.
Now if you over hone in your last stage (final finishing stage) that overhoning stays on the blade . edge is too fragile . you shave half of your face and for next half you end up stropping .
those are signs of overhoning.
hope this helps instead of confusing.

If significant pressure is used, it could indicate bevel set is not there.
The spine and the edge need to be flat on the stone at the same time and parallel. You can check for an even bevel with a hand held scope, though you can do it with naked eye under good light off the polishing grits. If the bevel aint there go back to 1K and don't move until arm hairs pop easily, on the thumb pad it should feel dangerously sharp and grippy. All this has to be done with no pressure (weight of blade only) otherwise you will go round in circles.
Check all posts by Lynn in particular on honing and the wiki. If you get the bevel right the rest should be fairly straight forward. The journey has begun, enjoy