Thread: how do you know when to move on to the next grit

Hi all,


I'm gonna start honing very soon.
One piece of advice that comes back regularly is:
after each set of circles, strokes, or passes, constantly test/check your progress so you know when to move on to the next hone (e.g. not too early with an unset bevel or not to late with an overhoned edge).

That I understand.
In particular for being done with the bevel: you should be able to shave/pop arm air and the TNT (thumbnail test) should be "positive".

Now my problem is that after that (once on a 3k or 4k and higher), the only test I know is the TPT (thumbpad test).

So my questions are:
- what other honing tests are out there to tell you when you're done with a 4k, a 8k, a 12k...?
- if only the TPT exits, then how do you feel the difference between a 4K-TPT and a 8k-TPT...?

I hope this makes sense.
If that helps, I'm gonna use
- Naniwa SuperStone 2k, 5k, 8k, 12k
- Chinese 12k
- CrOx paste.
And I've read the most of the wiki and forum posts.


Thank you
Christophe

It's purely a matter of doing it and seeing what works best for your.

I never got anywhere with the TPT. I couldn't feel the difference, and still can't. What I found was, as the razor got sharper, I could track its progress by how well it cut arm hair above the skin. Basically, the sharper it got, the higher I could go off the skin and the more smoothly the hair was cut. Moving up from 1K (shaving arm hair) I went on 4K until it cuts with a rough pop, with some pull. Then on to 8K until the pull is gone and the hair cuts cleanly and smoothly.

The problem is, my armhair test works for me because I've honed and shaved a lot--and I know the connection between my arm hair (very fine, but very thick and long) and how the razor shaves. Since your armhair is probably different from mine, you'll have to learn that correlation for yourself.

The same thing goes for the HHT and the TPT. You have to establish for yourself the connection between a shaving edge and any test you use. There's no fast and easy, one-shoe-fits-all test because everyone's face and hair are different.

It takes time to get that connection clear in your brain.

christophe,

I look at edge/bevel with a loupe or microscope and when all the previous stones scratch pattern is removed, I move on to the next stone.

It is probably not a very elegant way of doing things, but it works consistently for me

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

With that Naniwa progression, knowing when to move on is just a matter of counting strokes, IME. One the bevel is set, just do 20 circles followed by 20 X or rolling x strokes on each succcessive stone. That is the beauty of Superstones, they are very predictable. Works for me 99% of the time.

Those with years and thousands of razors of experience develop a feel for the blade on the hone that tells them when to move on. They are called honemeisters.

The rest of us are blessed to have Nanis.

BTW, do not use the Guangxi after the N12K. Chances are great you will degrade the edge, unless you have one of those one in a thousand C12Ks. Go straight to the Crox.

I really liked what JimR had to say, I grew up in restaurants so my fingers have been burned many times and feeling for sharpness doesnt work until I darn near hit bone. The way I compensate for this is the same as JimR, I also watch with great interest the water being pushed by my blade. When you start honing on the stone, no matter where in the progression, the blade will push the water in front of it until the bevel matches the stone. At this time the water will climb up the edge and onto the blade, the better the bevel is the easier, faster and farther the water travels from the edge towards the spine. also watch the surface of the stone after the edge has gone by, the better the edge , the drier the stone behind that edge.


In the end only the shave test matters.

Hone a lot and then some, I think Glen said something like that.
Pretty much everything that can be said is alread said here. You have to develop your personal benchmarks for how you test your edges, and as already mentioned, the Naniwas gives you nice feedback for when it's time to move on. Watch these videos, look and listen carefully:




As for your "C12K" you have to test it, try shaving right off the Naniwa 12k without stropping, just one cheek or something for getting a feel for it, then hit the C12K and shave the other cheek to feel the difference. That should give you an idea.
I must have one of the good ones, mine certainly improves a nani 12k edge.