Thread: how do you hone with an escher

I have been shaving with a straight for about 15 years. an 85 year old barber taught me how to sharpen and care for my razors. I have several hones and can generally get a good sharp edge with any of these hones. I have 2 J.G. Escher hones in my collection and everytime I use one of these for finishing I blunt the d#@* edge. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but when I use any of my other hones I' usually fine.

HELP

An Escher is a fine polishing hone. If you are fine with another hone and blunt it with an Escher I presume you overhone an already perfect edge. You can check this with the tumbnail test: an elaborate description of which you can find in the help files, written by Joe Lerch.

Kees made an excellent point. That's why I'd do a couple of things:
1) Lap the escher. If it's not perfectly flat, it can mess up the edge.
2) Watch the number of strokes. If it cuts faster than your other fine finishers, you can overhone if you finish with the same number.

Welcome!

What width is your stone compared to the other finishing stones you use? Is it thinner?

I suspect that it needs lapping, as Ilija suggested.

The other good question is about width - I have heard people have problems with either very wide or narrow hones, for some razors.

Cheers
Ivo

to answer all questions. all my hones are as flat as a pancake without baking powder. my eschers are 1x6 and 2 1/2x5 I tried again today with less passes, on an old wedge and it worked!?!? HUH, who knew?

Thanks, Mark (A.K.A. JMS)

So it looks like you overhoned in the past!

I guess so.