Thread: Can you over sharpen a razor?

I recently purchased a 1/6 K water stone. I sharpened my blades with the 1 K,4 K,6 K and 10K. The one I'm using now I breadknifed due to chips in the edge before honing. When I used it, I cut (hairline) myself without taking a stroke. I don't seem to understand why though. Have I over honed my blade? How do I correct this?

Rob, Over-sharpening or over-honing is pretty rare. 'Done it a couple times, as the honorable MrSell can tell you. If I understand "cut myself w/out taking a strok" correctly, it sounds like an awkward touchdown that sank below the surface. Most, if not all of us have done it.

Actual over-honing is when the edge gets so fine it becomes frail and cannot hold up for an entire shave. Part way through a shave it starts feeling rough. Its the edge breaking down.

If I was down under (Perth), I would probably go to some lengths to connect w/ some of the experienced users down there. That face to face time is really hard to beat. My respect for Oz' work is profound (Onimaru55). Some support, some tips, some hands-on time and most of these questions will disappear. In the mean time, keep posting and asking the questions. The guys here put up w/ my questions - others should be much easier than I was.

Thanks for that pinklather. I have been shaving with straights on and off. I in the last 7 mths decided to make it my full time shaving method. As a result of largely being self taught without using the web, books or the brilliant SRP I find myself lacking proper language and my knowledge is limited. I wish to address this.

Thank you for the advice.

Originally Posted by robwolfgang

Thanks for that pinklather. I have been shaving with straights on and off. I in the last 7 mths decided to make it my full time shaving method. As a result of largely being self taught without using the web, books or the brilliant SRP I find myself lacking proper language and my knowledge is limited. I wish to address this.

Thank you for the advice.

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Pinklather is giving you the best advice when he suggests that you contact Oz or Jimbo or any Aussie member for some one-on-one razor talk. You will be tickled pink at what you learn. Good luck.

Jerry

Originally Posted by mrsell63

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Pinklather is giving you the best advice when he suggests that you contact Oz or Jimbo or any Aussie member for some one-on-one razor talk. You will be tickled pink at what you learn. Good luck.

Jerry

Good advice. Both these guys are very helpful and willing to share their knowledge.

Sunbird

Overhoning is rare I agree. When I first started someone told me to see how long it takes to create a bur. So i took an ebay blade and it took over an hour before I had a bur. On a 325 no less. Anyway I believe when first honing ebay blades or even new factory edge blades, you need to stay on the coarse hone for a while before the bevel is set. Anyway I took that edge, backhoned it on a 1200 dmt to remove the bur, then did 40 circles, 40 laps and 40 x strokes. Then up from there. The blade shaved great.

I know Oz. He did some restore work for me. I can only describe his work as bloody brilliant. Jimbo I don't know but will look forward hopefully bumping in with him on SRP.

I would say you can sometimes get an "over honed" razor in the sense of "to sharp" too.
Got an old kamisori so sharp it was almost impossible to keep it on top of the skin, some stropping took care of that and then she was a beauty!

When someone first gets into honing that seems to be a big fear. You are much more likely to under hone a razor, like moving from a 4k to 8k when there is still 1k scratches. There are also back honing techniques that make it a non issue.

Pinklather has answered you perfectly, so I won't go there. I do know that the Aussie's are trying to put together a razor-meet, I know of two threads here: Down under I'm not so good with geography, but hopefully you can meet up with some like minded razor guys.