Thread: Honing SHoulder - Has anyone had this before????

Has anyone ever spent way too much time honing and ended up with what i like to call 'honing shoulder'? My right arm/shoulder is out of service today after I spent all afternoon yesterday on the stones!

I had previously set the bevel on a 1k naniwa borrowed from Ironsidegnr with one piece of electrical tape on 5 of my newly acquired straights. Returning his stone, I asked for two more I was happy when he lent me his 8k and 12k Naniwa superstones.

Between the 1K and 8k I also spent countless hours (on a previous day) on my 'yellow arkansaw' and my 'mystery gray'. Both definitely above the 1k but not certain about the gray stone, probably somewhere around 8k ish but a slow cutter.

I got started on the 8k, did 50x strokes per blade, first 25 had slight pressure, next 25 with little to no pressure. Then I moved to the 12k. I made a nice slurry and did 40 x strokes by 4 dilutions then washed the stone and went to straight water.

If my math is right i did 1250 x strokes total.... Hair was popping and the edges looked brilliant with an exceptional mirrored finish (viewed without magnification).

THEN I realise something... I set the bevel with 1 piece of electrical tape on the 1K to protect the spine and I hadn't reapplied it when doing the 8 and 12k........

The process started again and at the end of the day I had done 2500 X strokes and wasted my holiday monday.

With that said each of the razors is popping hair the entire length of the blade! I haven't tried the HHT yet but I'm hoping after stropping each of the blades they will pass it as well!

OH and when I get those 3 welsh slate hones I ordered from AJ on ebay I'll probably pick my favourite blade to run through the stones and see what the difference is like!

Did I mention that my shoulder is sore today???

You are developing new control muscles. It's not that you are really working on the razor, just holding the weight of your arm up. Keep it up buddy, it...just like all other aches, will pass.

Oh ya...PANSY!

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Oh ya...PANSY!

LOL thanks for the encouraging words. Much appreciated. Great 'MENTOR' you are

Careful you don't suffer a repetitive stress injury from prolonged session like that.

Bob

Brooksie, I have a few kinks in my cable w/ traditional, sound technique honing - causing fatique, soon followed by unsteadiness. If my arm gets tired, it will sometimes spasm. That produces the expected results of a poor stroke and poor edge. Certainly you have muscles that will acquire the strength and endurance for the job. If you start to feel tired, pay close attention to your edge on the stone surface. At the first sign of the stroke getting sloppy - take a break. Early on, I had to learn to take breaks when the frustration levels got too high. I wanted to 'get it' rather badly. You could tell how my day was going to go by how my last honing session went.

It sounds like you're having some fun & that's huge. You also have gotten to try some stones before laying out the funds - not knowing if you can use the stones. That's nice. Your friend is treating you very well. He has my thanks.

Just ask someone like Glen or Lynn who spend hours a day honing. That's why they have arms like a Chimpanzee.

I've never had trouble with my shoulder, but sometimes the joint at the base of my thumb will get sore if I hone too much in a day.

I've had wrist problems when I first started stropping on a hanging strop.
I also had upper back pain until I started to rest my elbows on the table when honing. I hone with my right arm, so my left one is always resting on the table.

So far my only honing 'injury' is a terrible and recurring case of honing mange.