odd noise

This is the second razor that I have run into that has done this: as I am completing the away-stroke (x-stroke) on the 4k, and sometimes 8k, norton I hear a slight squeaking sound. I tape my spines, the stone is thoroughly soaked, and I had lapped it only one razor-sharpening ago. I switched to a 45 degree x stroke and it pretty much took care of the noise. I took a look at the trueness of the spine, and it may have a very slight bow in it, but not enough to see much light when a straight edge is held up to it.

On the sound: it is almost like the noise you hear when you drag a wooden chair across a hard floor at the right angle. It feels almost like it is skipping on the stone. Does anybody have any idea what is going on?

The two possibilities that come to my mind (maybe it's one or maybe it's neither) is that

Maybe the blade just squeaks. Some do that on some hones, nothing to worry about.

You may be either lifting the spine off the hone or the edge off the hone. Either way makes a noise different from a normal honing sound.

The skipping you describe makes me lean towards #2, as it sounds like something irregular is happening.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

The two possibilities that come to my mind (maybe it's one or maybe it's neither) is that

Maybe the blade just squeaks. Some do that on some hones, nothing to worry about.

You may be either lifting the spine off the hone or the edge off the hone. Either way makes a noise different from a normal honing sound.

The skipping you describe makes me lean towards #2, as it sounds like something irregular is happening.

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Of the two possibilities you present, I am having to lean towards option #1 actually... haha. Out of the 10 or so razors I have honed in the last week or two, this is the only one which has made this sound. I actually just finished a Peter J. Michaels tonight, and didn't hear this sound at all. I suppose tomorrow morning when I shave test the "screeching-blade" I will see if I was lifting off the hone.

If the noise was consistent I would suggest non tempered or overly hard steel. I have honed a few like that & the 'squeal' was present in both directions but the other possibilities sound more likely in your case.