Thread: Favored methods of honing

I imagine that folks with a lot of honing experience develop favorite methods... Progressions of stones, natural or synthetic or combinations, that seem to work for them. I would think that they try to stick to this program as much as possible, at least in initial attempts.

Now, the questions...

Do your favored methods work on every razor, or do you have to compensate and adjust? I'm talking about changing stones in the progression, not just numbers of laps. And, if the most favored technique doesn't work fo all, why do you suppose not?

Do all razors of a particular brand or style resond the same to your efforts? And again, if not... Why not?

As a newb myself, I'm just sticking with the pyramid

Pyramid honing guide - Straight Razor Place Wiki

After trying all kinds of other stuff first, I've finally settled on a progression with Nortons and primarily finishing on a Naniwa 12k followed by CrOx.

I probably would have saved myself lots of headaches if I had just done it this way in the first place. (though I did get to play with LOTS of stones)

I don't do pyramids, I just step up when I'm done with each stone. I've got tests that work for me to tell me that I'm finished with each step.

If I were to change anything at this point: I want to try a Naniwa 1k instead of the Norton, as I've read that it doesn't cause as much spine wear on bevel setting.

I never do pyramids, if you need to go down the grit ladder it simply means your edge was not ready to move up.

One of my "methods" is to use a narrow hone (1" width) on very smiley blades.

I'm with Kees. I just move up using a 30X magnifier to make sure that I am ready to move up from setting a bevel to about the 8K point.

Later,
Richard

One advantage of haveing a few different stones is that you can bounce around one a razor spacific issue. This last week I have been having a heck of a time getting a shaveable edge on one razor with my current J-Nat finisher. I did a few laps on the coticule and that razor calmed down right away...

I'm sure my current technique with that razor just works better with that razor/hone combo...

I don't do pyramids either. They are very good for rookies cause it gives you a safe reliable way of attacking the issue.

I have a basic routine depending on whether I'm doing a touchup or a more extensive honing but often times certain razors respond better to differing hones and techniques and also you come across razors with different problems that have to be addressed that don't always fall into methods where you can use standardized approaches.

So the answer is first you need to analyze the problem you need to address and then figure out the technique and the right equipment for the job and you need to be prepared to alter your game-plan on the fly.

Originally Posted by BlacknTan

Do your favored methods work on every razor. No.. that would be too easy

or do you have to compensate and adjust? Yup
I'm talking about changing stones in the progression, not just numbers of laps. And, if the most favored technique doesn't work fo all, why do you suppose not?
Can be any number of factors but here's one instance from my experience. You get a set of 2 identical wedges with ivory scales. One is properly tempered the other missed the tempering process all together & is hard as rock & chippy on your Shaptons. Now you can risk unpinning the ivory scales & throw it in the oven at the right temp to soften it back a little or you can try something like a coticule & see if you can sneak up on that edge. In this instance the coticule worked for me but some other stone may have done the trick too.

Do all razors of a particular brand or style resond the same to your efforts? And again, if not... Why not? See above

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.

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.

This is what I was looking for! Great answer!!

Perhaps I phrased my questions poorly, but all are welcome to take another crack at it...

Basically a mix of the same as Kees and thebigspendur.

Generally the same progression works on 'em all, but I have one razor that seems to prefer a different finishing hone. Or it could just be the way I abuse my usual finishing hone.

I think any reasonable progression will get the job done. It just depends on the hones you like to use. Knowing when to move to the next hone helps a lot...