I've been wondering what straight razor maker's grit/hone progression is.
Several videos have been out showing TI and Dovo razor makers sharpening on wheels followed directly on a Belgian. Arthur Boone furthers this mentioning the final polish on an Escher stone. This said. Does anyone know what grit those stone wheels are made of?
Lynn, What has Maestro Lido Livi discussed on this matter?
MikeB
I know he uses a pasted loom strop for finishing but I'm forgetting what the steps leading up to it are.
I watched the DVD which came with my razor at the weekend. It may not show the entire honing process but he appeared to use a sanding/polishing belt with metal oxide pastes, then moved on to some kind of barber hone on which he uses extremely fast (and presumably light) strokes. Interestingly he did many (10 to 15?) strokes on one side of the razor then turned it over to do the same on the other side.
It would be interesting to hear exactly what he does. Though I imagine it involves skills/experience and equipment that most of us wouldn't have, so for mere mortals the Norton 4K/8K and pasted paddles is probably to most practical solution.
I have noticed with my 4K/8K, with the grind on most of my razors I can't start the x-stroke with the point of the blade overhanging the edge of the stone - otherwise the heel is lifted up off the stone. This means I still do x-strokes, but the heel comes off the edge of the hone almost immediately and thus receives far less honing than the point and of the blade.
Is there a reason to use an x pattern other than for hones which are smaller then the width of the blade, like does the razor respond better to being ground at the slight cross angle the x-pattern produces? Or is it just as effective to use a straight up and down the hone pass, unless I'm missing something this would produce a more even honing to all parts of the blade?
There is a tendency to apply more pressure at the heel than the toe, since you've got more leverage there. The X pattern helps compensate for this. As you've noticed, it may be better to use the 2" norton rather than the 3" norton if you're gonna use the X pattern. Or a barber hone.