Thread: Basic honing questions

Thanks for all the feedback. Interesting differences in approach here. I'll try some of these and see how things go. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions on this.


Jordan

Originally Posted by xman

Neither is actually necessary ... unless you happen to BE me, which you aren't because I'm busy covering that base myself. But enough about me ... What do YOU think of me?

The x-pattern is not necessary (period). It's recommended by the barber manual because it produces an angle on the microserrations which is slightly better for shaving with tip leading, as the manual suggests.

The smile is not necessary. The barber manual recommends it so you can avoid a frown. It never says it is preferable to a straight edge. And if anybody knows a reason why it might be, I'd sure like to hear it because I haven't found anything. I can see how a frown would be a problem because it creates a bulge for the edge to cut. The smile, on the other hand, creates a gradual depression, applying pressure unevenly (higher in the middle?)compared to a straight edge.

I'd also like to hear why you find these things NECESSARY. That could be of interest to a lot of us.

Joe, I like the smile because it does a good job in the area between lower jaw and neck and also in the area between the larynx (voice box) and the muscles further back. In these areas a frown wouldn't allow my blade to get in full touch with the skin when going against the grain (in most areas I do one pass only, against the grain).

The X-pattern suggested to me by many forum members has given me more consistent edges than the ellipsoid movements I used earlier.

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

... I'd also like to hear why you find these things NECESSARY. That could be of interest to a lot of us.

It was actually a joke, Joe. I don't really use the X pattern on the hone preferring to go straight down with the heel leading while rolling the main point of contact along from heel to tip. Also, unlike Kees, whenever I have tried to use my free hand to stabalise the tip I impeded my ability to achieve a good edge. I know it doesn't make sense and I don't know why it happens, but that's just how it is for me.

Like Kees, I prefer smiles in tight corners like my jawline, but also to get the proper against the grain direction beside my adams apple. Those hairs grow straight out sideways and that means a vertical attack with the razor, but the tip and tang on a flat edge tend to get hung up on my jaw and collarbone repectively. A good wide smile lets the middle of the edge reach a little further beyond the extremities. I'm also more comfortable with a steeper cutting angle since the tip will be reaching back for less angle than the middle of the edge.

X

Originally Posted by xman

...I don't really use the X pattern on the hone preferring to go straight down with the heel leading while rolling the main point of contact along from heel to tip.

X

X, what do you mean by "rolling the main point of contact". I assume you're not lifting any portion of the blade. Do you mean you're "emphasizing" or putting a little extra "pressure" along the length of the edge as you move it - with the emphasis rolling up the blade, so to speak? Thanks.

Jordan

He's talking about "smiling" blades (where the blade has a belly to it). These require a different technique since you can't get the entire edge on the hone at once.

Originally Posted by mparker762

He's talking about "smiling" blades (where the blade has a belly to it). These require a different technique since you can't get the entire edge on the hone at once.

I gotcha. Thanks

And I find that even for "flat" blades, the subtlest rolling action helps even the hone job. Trying to use even pressure throughout the stroke on a relatively flat blade will ensure that the tip receives different pressure than the heel and the edge will be inconsistent along its length. An off hand stabilising grip with a few fingers might be a different solution for some guys, but as I've said, it just doesn't want to fly for me.

X