Thread: Honing a 4/8" razor?

Is there any appreciable difference when honing a 4/8" razor versus a 5/8"? I tried searching, but all I got back was a bunch of posts about the Norton 4/8 stone.

I don't really feel there is much difference in honing the different sizes.

Grind, and geometry, matters more when it comes to the right approach on honing various razors.

As an example, a smiling wedge could be totally different on the hones compared to a full hollow with a straight cutting edge.

+1 Birnando.

I really have found there to be no difference unless the geometry is different. I actually have a lot easier time with a straight edge vs. a smile.

The 4/8"ers seem to take less effort vs. a 7/8 or larger, but that might just be me... No expert here.

Originally Posted by mjhammer

+1 Birnando.

I really have found there to be no difference unless the geometry is different. I actually have a lot easier time with a straight edge vs. a smile.

The 4/8"ers seem to take less effort vs. a 7/8 or larger, but that might just be me... No expert here.

i would think a lot of people have an easier time with a straight edge vs a smile until they get pretty good at a rolling stroke..

Thanks for the info. I didn't think there was anything different, but I wanted to be sure before starting on a new acquisition of mine. I found a Hoffritz 4/8" razor that has so little hone wear that I'm not sure it hasn't ever been to the stones.

There is no difference in the honing, but the narrow width of the blade suggests a tighter stropping or preferrably a paddle strop which guarantees the edge will not be wrapped too much.

For me, my larger razors seem easier to hold stable on the hone. Also the bigger razors take up more surface and so have less travel on the hone, which is a small factor. So I think the 4/8 might take a little more effort, but not much.


Michael

Honing a 4/8th" razor? All the basice techniques apply, everything else is the same.

FWIW

I use mostly large blades, almost never under 8/8. Last night I honed a 9/16 for the first time (for someone else). I found it much harder to manipulate, both on the hones and on the strop. The big blades seem to hone and strop themselves.

As mjsorkin referred to, narrow blades can be more difficult to keep flat on the stone. Try honing a 3/8 sometime if you don’t think this is true. This is one of the reasons why manufacturers offer to wider hollow ground blades. They are easier to maintain.
Mike