Thread: Hitting the "Stone/Hone" Wall and Climbing over

I have given this advice so many times I figured it might be a good idea to create a thread so these "Tricks" would be in one spot

PLEASE feel free to add your own ideas and let's get a ton of info in one spot :


1. Learn to walk away, if a razor has you stumped, learn to walk away, set that razor aside, and move to the next one, or get up and go do something else.. Sitting there Grinding on a razor normally achieves nothing good.. I have read posts where people are putting in more then 1 hour on one hone, that is just too long...

2. Change something up (the ideas below are in no particular order)

2a. Change Hones, Go up a grit, go down a grit
2b. Add slurry or subtract slurry
2c. Add a layer of tape or Subtract a layer of tape
2d. Change your stroke patten, try circles, try X's , try Japanese, try Angled honing, get radical
2e. Try stropping the razor
2f. Try the Magic Marker test
2g. Try killing the edge (Drastic) but it can work for many Chippy razors.
2h. Try using a different brand/type of hone altogether (if you have them)

3. Magnification is your friend, well lit Magnification is your BFF

4. Jumping ahead, puts you behind, basically this really relates to the bevel set, if you say to yourself "Screw it, the edge is almost there, I will catch it on the next stone" you just added work for yourself and you are simply polishing the bevels.. Until that bevel is set from Heel to Toe and set correctly and evenly, jumping ahead is a waste of time...

5. Going below a 1k (approximately) stone for anything besides serious edge restoration (Pre-honing) doesn't really save you time it simply cuts deeper into the bevel and that has to come back out, or you will have a weak/harsh edge in the end.. This is something you either have to trust me on, or you have to do the tests yourself.. Honest, if there was a "Faster" way to set a bevel I would be using it

6. Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast, What does that mean ??? Well it means that doing it slow means that you will get a smooth consistent stroke, by getting a smooth consistent stroke you will hone better and faster
If you try and rush the process, one small mistake sets you farther back, one single mis-stroke or miscue on the hone can erase all your work


This is all I got this morning, I am sure I will think of more after my second cup of coffee I will be back to add them, as I remember them, or as I learn new ones, I hope to read many more from you guys..

Number 6 is my favourite. Applies to the whole shebang of SR shaving lol.

Well written

One little addition to the second paragraph that I have found to resolve matters on some occasions, is pressure.
More of it, or even sometimes less of it.
This relates to the bevel setting and sharpening stages first and foremost.

I've had many over for honing sessions at my place, and that is one thing that often surprices them

I'd add that you should get to know your hones. There's always a large temptation to acquire more hones in search of the "best". IMO the "best" hone is the one you know how to use to its full potential and can rely on the outcome time and time again.

Honing is a personal thing. Although many aspects translate well across people in the end it is you, a razor, and your hones. Reading or even watching what others have done is good, but it is no substitute for experimentation and trying things out for yourself. This is particularly true when talking about natural hones.

James.

Excellent advice especially #1...I can't tell you how many times I've walked away from a stone but it works.

I can't hone when I'm in a bad mood.

Never hone tired/sleepy, your attention will be all over the place. Better to put it off for the night then try to hammer on through and gouge a stone or chip a blade b/c you weren't paying attention.

Keep your elbow and wrist in alignment, if you let your elbow droop you tend to rock the tip of the blade slightly up too.

One of the best posts yet on honing,says it all in simple terms,Thank you.

Cant take credit for that, learned that tidbit watching Lynn and Glen's vids..so thank you to both you guys.