Thread: Honemeisters Secrets

Loud and Clear Glen Even with Tape))))

I"ve been pretending to know what I'm doin' when it comes to my honeing, about 2 1/2 years now, but my skill lacks, I don't get that feeling on my finishing stones. But I still don't get that feeling, mostly I move on when I look under magnification and it pass's the TPT. Guess I'll never be a honing meister, but that's OK, I still love to shave with a razor that I put to my rocks.

Have a great weekend, tinkersd

I agree - there's no secret besides practice, experience, and patience. Don't be afraid to "mess up" - you'd be surprised how little damage you can do with a hone if you are practising good honing technique.

As to a feel, there's always feedback and logically it varies with the stone and the state its surface is in, and clearly also on the razor and the kind of edge it possesses. To me "stiction" only means one side of the bevel is flat - like a microscope, it tells you nothing about how close (sharp) those sides are to each other. This is why ensuring your bevel is good is so important.

Nothing short-cuts the process - there is no magic bullet to replace hard graft, practice, developing your edge tests and honing technique, and working out what works best on what stone with what razor and under what kind of progression.

To answer the OPs question, I know my edge is ready after a series of tests (beginning with the wet thumb nail on lower grits and ending with arm hair wafting at higher grits) gets me to the point where I know I can test shave. If the test shave goes well, I know the edge is good. So I suppose technically there is a "feeling" - the feeling of how an edge I have honed shaves.

James.

In my limited experience, gssixgun hit the nail on the head. And it is a great feeling to shave with a razor you have honed yourself. Took me a long time to do it, i thought it would be easy, as i have sharpened many a chisel, but this is sharp on a whole new level.

Jimbo.Little damage My AZZ this was my first Honing attempt,3 yrs ago,am getting better tho

Yes, but now you know honing involves rubbing the razor on the stone and not throwing the stone at the razor - a common rookie mistake!

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Yes, but now you know honing involves rubbing the razor on the stone and not throwing the stone at the razor - a common rookie mistake!

James.

I learned that after the first attempt,Than I discovered Tape,glorious TAPE

I get some sticktion with the 1K when I try to lift it off a wet table.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I learned that after the first attempt,Than I discovered Tape,glorious TAPE

I never thought tape would be enough to hold the broken pieces together.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

It really isn't a secret..

Make sure the bevel is well and truely set before moving on, did you know that 90% of the honing is done in the bevel set, honestly it really is all about the bevel...

I am not sure if it is clear or not, so I would say Bevel, Bevel, Bevel, once the bevel is set, honing is actually fun and pretty easy

Dammit Glen ! You told the secret ...... now it ain't a secret anymore !!

Don't tell that guy who "can't get HHT with his hone" that he needs to try it with the razor instead ......