Thread: Favored methods of honing

BlacknTan,

I am very much still in the learning phase when it comes to honing, so please take this into account when reading the below - it reflects my experiences only !

I have & use the Norton 4/8 and 1, 3, 5, 8 , 10 &12 k Naniwa stones.

I hone using a progression, and do not use a pyramid; I found I got better result this way than I did from a pyramid - though most new honers find the pyramid to very useful.

I hone all my razors on these stones, and have not had one (yet !!) that has been a 'refuser' - for the harder steel blades (C135 TIs etc) I do more laps than the softer ones, but the progressions used remains the same.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

There are certain things that work well on certain blades (like sheffield razors not liking high grit synthetics) but generally it just comes down to learning the stones you have and getting the best out of them.

The most important thing is always the bevel set. Get that right and it all falls into place fairly easily! Thats really the hardest bit of honing I think, and usually the bit that takes the time as well.

Let me give you the three most important aspects of honing...
After honing thousands of razors I have figured out these three things...

1. Set the bevel

2. Set the bevel

3. Set the bevel



90% of the honing is in setting the bevel, once that is done you pretty much can go any direction you want and get a good shave.. Heck there are some guys out there that don't even own any stones except a bevel setter... You can strop in the edge from there on a pasted strop if you want...
Somehow you have to cover these steps, Bevel, Sharpen, Polish, Finish, how you do that, only matters to your face...


PS: Yes after honing many razors you develop certain systems with the different steels that you know are going to work the best, but remember that is always ONLY your opinion because it is your face...You really can't know that your systems work for other people, unless you hone for other people. That is when you actually learn, if what you think is good honing, really is... Keep in mind for only your own razors, your one system that works the best for you, then that is all you ever need...

i wish i had one.
This is what i do. i use mostly natural stones. learn them as soon as i know how they work i am looking for next set of naturals. this keeps me constantly learning. if i hone only 1 set i think i will get bored after honing 10 blade and wouldn't like honing at all.
i love honing just relaxing for me. i feel i am against the steel to get max of it. when i rich that point i am done.
hope this helps.
HAD is just wont stop.

When I need to count on a razor being shave ready, I will use the circle method and this hits virtually every time with the fewest of exceptions. For the most part, I start with a 1K for bevel setting and then move to 4K, 8K, 12K or the Escher or Japanese Natural. I still play with the pyramid and honing on different stone progressions all the time and I play with the naturals and more tests for sharpness.

The key to by the numbers is purely educational. It gives people the opportunity for quicker success and once they develop good fundamentals, it is easier to experiment on your own with different methods and materials. I see a lot of poo pooing of the basics by folks either by self proclamation or promoting products, but the absolute key to growing the straight shaving population is teaching people to be successful both in shaving and in honing early. It is always fun to see when a person gets their first razor shave ready and then when they learn the differences in how sharp they can make a razor. Your skills will definitely increase with the more razors you hone. When you realize you don't know what you don't know, you are getting there. And all of us hopefully continue to learn as new methods and media are introduced.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Basically there is a concept of "marrying" the steel to the right stone" but most of the time whatever you have on hand will do. The times it does'nt you have to try something else.

One of the reasons certain hones are so popular is the fact that you can marry them to almost any razor. Naniwas, Nortons, coticules and Eschers usually are perfect husbands to most razors.

Originally Posted by Kees

One of the reasons certain hones are so popular is the fact that you can marry them to almost any razor. Naniwas, Nortons, coticules and Eschers usually are perfect husbands to most razors.

This really is a great point. I can't ever remember changing out one of these stones and a couple others to suit a particular razor.

Originally Posted by Lynn

When you realize you don't know what you don't know, you are getting there.

I'm glad to find out that I'm at least heading in the right direction.

All good and thoughtful posts!

I've gotten some pretty good edges... for me. I've only gotten one razor professionally honed, and I'd say I'm in the ballpark. But, will I ever know if I've taken a particular razor to it's limits?
Do the Pros know when they've coaxed every bit of keenness out of a blade, or is there always that nagging doubt that perhaps another stone or system might just provide a touch more? Maybe this finisher instead of that would have been a hair better?

BTW, I don't use pastes or sprays, powders or anything applied to a strop for enhancement. I want to see how much I can get out of stones only first.. Otherwise, how will I know if my honing is progressing if I'm artificially covering my errors?

P.S.

I've already realized that I don't know what I do know!

Originally Posted by BlacknTan

All good and thoughtful posts!

BTW, I don't use pastes or sprays, powders or anything applied to a strop for enhancement. I want to see how much I can get out of stones only first.. Otherwise, how will I know if my honing is progressing if I'm artificially covering my errors?

BlacknTan,

Well said !

I wish I had done that when I started to hone; I am now having re-learn honing to achieve that objective

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ