Thread: Favored methods of honing

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 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

Originally Posted by BlacknTan

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!

The only way you will know if you have taken a blade to it's limits is to re-hone it or tweak it and see if you can make it better. There is no magic here although the quest for the perfect edge never goes away. Some razors are known to shave OK and for the most part and almost every time you hone one, you can make it shavable. Some razors consistently take a better edge and provide a better shave, but you can still be fooled here on occasion. In addition the stretch from great shaver to one of the best is not a far stretch, but it can be elusive. If you want to know what razors are truly the best, then you have to try a bunch of razors as personal preference plays a huge part in these discussions. Same with hones.

I don't know where the notion of not using pastes, powders or spays comes from, but these media play a very important part in the search for the holy edge. I can get great shaves off an 8K stone, 12K stone, 16K stone and a variety of natural stones. All can be made just a touch better however with the use of sprays or pastes. Sometimes you just hit the edge perfectly off the stones and the result is magical. If I could make this happen every single time, I would bottle the method. The key is to not overdo it. Less is always better in my approach to honing.

You would not believe all the things that effect honing. The type of water you have, the individual hones and razors themselves. The grind of the razor, the hardness, the prior wear.......humidity, wind velocity and a bunch of stuff.........The amount of pressure you put on the stones can be critical.

I am most confident when I use the circle method including diamond spray or CrOx that I have gotten the most out of the edge, but if the edge is not up to my expectation, I can repeat the process or a part of the process and get the razor there with consistency and reliability. I can teach this method and the pyramid method to new guys and they usually can catch on quickly. Where do I get my expectations? From honing so damn many razors!! That said, there are tons of methods out there these days and more coming. Each person has to find the method that will give them the confidence to make razors sharp and that confidence will lead to consistency even if you have to tinker with an edge for a while. So long as you know what tinkering it takes, you're good to go. I have yet to find a perfect method, complete with the amount of strokes or circles that will work to give the ultimate edge on every razor (Doesn't mean I'll quit looking for it any time soon).

Nothing will take the place of simply honing more types of razors and experimenting with more hones. This learning process is really important if you want to build an internal data base to assist you in your search for the ultimate edge. The more you hone, the more you will learn and the more your individual skill set will increase. You can also hone the only razor you have every week or month or year and see how much better you can make it.

Honing is as much an art as a science and I believe it should be treated as such. Can everyone hone??? I don't think so, but not everyone can paint a masterpiece, build a house or a car or a plane or program a computer either. This is just a sport that more people are enjoying and learning about every day.

Have fun,

Lynn