Over the years I have pondered the pros and cons of using a convex hone to produce an exceptional straight razor edge. Indeed it is more than a “Ford-Chevy….Tastes great, less filling“ difference of opinions.
When the convex hones first appeared on the horizon, I’ll admit I was a tad skeptical. I wasn’t sure if this was a clever new method of sharpening, re-introduction of old and established technique, or something epic and wonderful. My first impressions were “meh”.
As time went on though, it seemed perhaps I was missing something with the convex hones and the edges they reportedly can produce. So…..without rehashing history in detail:
My first experience with the new edge created on a convex hone may not have been the greatest. But, that could have been due to myriad variables. Point being, there are a lot of positive reports about this technique and its ability to do good things to a razor. Figured I’d give it another try. This time I was giving the green light to Jarrod at TSS and asking him to put the convex mojo on a new, never before honed outside the factory, Thiers-Issard 6/8 extra full hollow.
And…….
OK, I get it. Cutting right to the chase I can say this T-I offered up one truly fine shave on a multi-day growth. Close and comfortable…to say the least. I was so impressed, I bought a second razor (Dovo Bismarck 6/8 full hollow) and asked Jarrod to set that one up on the convex stone as well. Yeah, I was that impressed.
I’m now considering buying one of the plates TSS sells to reshape a flat stone to convex.
I have a set of Jonathan Coe Arkansas stones that I believe would work even better once reshaped.
I‘m curious to see how honing a quarter or half hollow grind blade might work on a convex hone. It’s my understanding they perform at their peak on hollow or extra hollow grinds. I will have to look into that in the future.
When the convex hones first appeared on the horizon, I’ll admit I was a tad skeptical. I wasn’t sure if this was a clever new method of sharpening, re-introduction of old and established technique, or something epic and wonderful. My first impressions were “meh”.
As time went on though, it seemed perhaps I was missing something with the convex hones and the edges they reportedly can produce. So…..without rehashing history in detail:
My first experience with the new edge created on a convex hone may not have been the greatest. But, that could have been due to myriad variables. Point being, there are a lot of positive reports about this technique and its ability to do good things to a razor. Figured I’d give it another try. This time I was giving the green light to Jarrod at TSS and asking him to put the convex mojo on a new, never before honed outside the factory, Thiers-Issard 6/8 extra full hollow.
And…….
OK, I get it. Cutting right to the chase I can say this T-I offered up one truly fine shave on a multi-day growth. Close and comfortable…to say the least. I was so impressed, I bought a second razor (Dovo Bismarck 6/8 full hollow) and asked Jarrod to set that one up on the convex stone as well. Yeah, I was that impressed.
I’m now considering buying one of the plates TSS sells to reshape a flat stone to convex.
I have a set of Jonathan Coe Arkansas stones that I believe would work even better once reshaped.
I‘m curious to see how honing a quarter or half hollow grind blade might work on a convex hone. It’s my understanding they perform at their peak on hollow or extra hollow grinds. I will have to look into that in the future.