Thread: What is the Pyramid system?

Thanks for the encouragement, X! Will try the whole 11 steps again, slowly, with light to nearly no pressure and see if that does it! My Double Duck Dwarf is really close now & I want to get the Heckels to match it or go one better.

About three 11 step pyramids later. The first of them seemed to make the Henckels duller. Now it's getting close again. Just used it this evening and didn't need the backup. No real soreness or discomfort, so I don't think it's overhoned; but it's definitely not as smooth a shave as the other 3 straights I own. Planning on doing a 1 - 5 with my barber hones before every shave till it's equal with the others. I think the 11 steps would definitely be overkill at this point. Thanks men for all the good advice and encouragement.

Your on the right track, the 1-5 between shaves will eventually get you there.

Originally Posted by dennisthemenace

About three 11 step pyramids later. The first of them seemed to make the Henckels duller. Now it's getting close again. Just used it this evening and didn't need the backup. No real soreness or discomfort, so I don't think it's overhoned; but it's definitely not as smooth a shave as the other 3 straights I own. Planning on doing a 1 - 5 with my barber hones before every shave till it's equal with the others. I think the 11 steps would definitely be overkill at this point. Thanks men for all the good advice and encouragement.

Why the sets on the 8K stone in the middle of the pyramid after the ones on the 4K stone?

As I understand it, the 4K forms the sharpe edge and the 8K is just to polish it up before stropping. To me there is no point in polishing the razor on the 8K if you are just going to stick it back on the 4K for another set. Can someone please explain this to me? Surely you should just use the 8K at the end?

I am waiting for my combination stone to arrive before I do my first honing. Maybe it wil all become clear when I start honing.

Thanks

Originally Posted by dennisthemenace

About three 11 step pyramids later. The first of them seemed to make the Henckels duller.

Did you strop before putting it back on the hone? If not, the fin is still crooked and wavy so the first stroke on the hone tends to cut it off :-(

Oh yes. I stropped after every pyramid. 40 - 50 round trips.

After you use the pyramid system to get the blade sharp, and strop it, is it shave ready? or do you move to a finer hone or what?

I only own two barber hones, a medium and a fine from Tilly. After the honing, I strop and shave. I've got 2 up to shave ready; I'm hoping that after today after doing a one - five, & stropping it (the Henckels) will magically be there. But expect several more 1 - 5's before it really is.

Its not my system, but your question may go unanswered if I don't atleast take a stab at it. The key is the test shaves as you go and 5 x 8K passes will smooth out the bevel enough to test it and see if its close. Failing a test shave most guys will go back to 4K and rock back and forth until the razor is close. Testing of 4K will take part of you face off. With experience its possible to move off 4K at some determined sharpness test, say an HHT (thats Hanging Hair Test).

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Why the sets on the 8K stone in the middle of the pyramid after the ones on the 4K stone?

As I understand it, the 4K forms the sharpe edge and the 8K is just to polish it up before stropping. To me there is no point in polishing the razor on the 8K if you are just going to stick it back on the 4K for another set. Can someone please explain this to me? Surely you should just use the 8K at the end?

I am waiting for my combination stone to arrive before I do my first honing. Maybe it wil all become clear when I start honing.

Thanks

Yes, pretty much. It depends on your beard and face. I use many more smoothing strokes afterward, on 8K or a barber hone. I usually check the bevel as I may need to resmooth the bevel at this point too. I can hone but I can also do damage to the edge, so it needs to be relooked at.

Originally Posted by icecow

After you use the pyramid system to get the blade sharp, and strop it, is it shave ready? or do you move to a finer hone or what?