Thread: pyramid 8000 / 12000 grit

Does it make sense to keep a pyramid in 8000 / 12000 grit
(like the 4 / 8 grit stone)
Or can you best 4000 / 8000 grit and maintain as the razor sharp enough is for shaving.
then finish with 12,000. This is perfect in my eyes but ....

Was just wondering does it make sense. Has anyone done this before?
Does it have any value to the edge if you do it on this way?

I wouldn't bother, it makes it all quite complicated!

If you do the pyramid on the 4/8, test shave and then finish on the 12k that'll work well.

If the shave is good off the 8k then the 12k will enhance the edge. If it won't shave off the 8k then the 12k won't do anything much other than polish the edge. So you'll end up with a shiny bevel that won't shave.

Personally I don't use pyramids, I prefer a progressive approach, but if I used pyramids that's what I'd do.

Me too!!

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by kalerolf

Does it make sense to keep a pyramid in 8000 / 12000 grit
(like the 4 / 8 grit stone)
Or can you best 4000 / 8000 grit and maintain as the razor sharp enough is for shaving.
then finish with 12,000. This is perfect in my eyes but ....

Was just wondering does it make sense. Has anyone done this before?
Does it have any value to the edge if you do it on this way?

Are you looking for hints on how to use hones you have
or are you looking for hints on what to get?

Razors, hones, faces and steel all differ a little or a lot so the
truth is in the shave test.

A single 10K or 12K modern man made hone like the 12K superstone
can maintain an edge for me. I lap the surface just a little then
hone the razor lightly taking advantage of the slurry, then rinse it and finish
hone it.

An 8K/12K pyramid can work, so can a modified 4K/12K pyramid.
I suspect that some whiskers like a slight tooth that a 4K-8K hone
can give.

Try some things and tell us what you think.

Like Studbear I prefer a progressive approach when
finishing a razor. And for maintaining an edge I often
just visit my Naniwa 12K superstone or Naniwa Chosera 10000 hone.
Just one hone -- both are about the same some days.
For maintaining I lightly lap, hone until the slurry goes a little
grey, dilute and hone a bit more then rinse clean and
final finish with light smooth honing strokes.

I highly recommend the pyramid method it gave me the most consistent
edge until I developed a better feel.

Studbear? Only SWMBO calls me that...!

That made my evening, definitely got a laugh outta that...!

For me I"ve found that both progressive and pyramid honing has their place,If I"m progressivly honing a razor and not getting what I need from the edge, I will try both or either a conservative pyramid or an agresive one.
I find that sometimes get's my bacon out of the fire so to speak

Have fun chaps, I am still tinkersd or SRP!

I like and use an 8k-12k pyramid. Basically I hone 4k to shaving sharp, then go to the 8k with slurry, and dilute to clear. When the edge is shave ready, I pull up a slurry on both the 8k and 12k stones and do a pyramid diluting the 8k to clear, but leaving the slurry on the 12k. When the pyramid is complete, I keep doing strokes on the 12k and dilute to clear. When I have it clear, I rinse the stone with water, wipe off the excess and do perfect no pressure X and heal forward strokes until the stone is just about dry.

I have tired about every possible combination with the stones I have, and have found this to be what works best to get that nice smooth comfortable edge that my face and whiskers like. As with every aspect of straight shaving the finish on your razors edge is something very personal to you and you alone. Try a couple of different honing progressions, and find what works best for you.