Thread: What exactly is overhoning?

Does it cause a wire edge, a crumbled edge, or an edge that goes dull quickly when shaving? I've read all three in reference to an "overhoned" edge.

I got to thinking about this a lot for some reason... I just took a razor and once the bevel was set, did 400 laps each on: Norton 4k, 8k, and Naniwa 12k. Then I did 100 laps on a CrOx strop. I checked the edge after each grit and after the stropping. I couldn't find anything "bad" about it. It seems that I just used WAY more laps than what I needed to get to the same result.
This is just one razor, and it's the only one I've tried this with. Maybe a different razor would have completely different results.

Anyhow... What exactly is overhoning, how do you recognize it, and how much does it take to make it happen???
(In the meantime I am going to experiment with a few more razors to see how much damage I can or can't do with high laps.)

In my view overhoning is formation of a burr. if you break it off it's a crumbled edge, if not, it's a wire edge.

With some steels I've seen microchipping when I hone carefully so that I don't create a burr, in this case honing beyond what the steel can support as a nice edge is to me overhoning as well.

I recognize overhoning with a high quality microscope, so far I haven't had to figure it out due to a bad shave.

The only hone I have ever overhoned on is the DMT1200. As Ivan said, a burr formed. I would call that a wire edge. When the wire edge comes off, the bevel is imperfect, and it must be re-finished.

I don't have a microscope, but I could see the wire edge with my naked eyes by reflecting light off the bevel. I can also feel the wire edge come off if I remove it with my thumbnail (similar to doing a TNT).

I really think one is much more likely to underhone (meaning not fully set the bevel or not take the edge as far as one can on a given hone) than to overhone.

I find it to be when you hone so much (approx. 400 laps each hone) that your eyes sink in, your skin goes pale and you get grumpy face. In other words: zombification.

I have never experienced overhoning personally, but then again I don't see why it could ever happen. It seems to take so many strokes that the waste is enormous.

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

It seems to take so many strokes that the waste is enormous.

Wait till you get some nasty ebay specials. When the steel has to come off, the steel has to come off. Or just a really aggressive hone can do it too.

Using the method that Glen taught me last year I have removed some serious chips in little time while never once overhoning. I don't know if it will work on all steels, but Glen had confidence in it and I know he hones more each year than I ever will.

Like holli4 said, I have also worked an edge to remove steel on a 1200 and had the crumbling take place. That is one reason I always went from the 1200 to a 1k naniwa when I did use the diamond plate. Whether at that stage of the game or at the point of shaving and finding the edge falls apart on you, that is overhoning AFAIC.

I recall someone, I think it was heavydutysg135, say that under honing is a far more common problem. I believe he was referring to inadequately set bevels. He said among guys who couldn't get their razors shave ready that was a common cause.

I have never understood the term overhone if you keep the same angle all you will do is keep removing metal and the edge will always be the same the only thing that will be overdone is that you will decrease the width of your blade. Unless you do more strokes on one side than the other then a wire edge would develop. But each time you flip to the new side it would knock the wire or burr off.

Originally Posted by knightwolf

I have never understood the term overhone if you keep the same angle all you will do is keep removing metal and the edge will always be the same the only thing that will be overdone is that you will decrease the width of your blade.

Like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said about pornography, "I know it when I see it." If you ever see it you'll know it. Overdoing it can get the very edge like tin foil.

Originally Posted by HNSB

I just took a razor and once the bevel was set, did 400 laps each on: Norton 4k, 8k, and Naniwa 12k. Then I did 100 laps on a CrOx strop. I checked the edge after each grit and after the stropping. I couldn't find anything "bad" about it.

But that 5/8 razor was a 7/8 when you started