Theory of Pyramid

[drjay9051]

I understand the pyramid technique but not theory.

Why hone on 8K stone only to knock down the edge and than rebuild it again and again.

Logical tells me to take a 4K as far as I can than 8K and than possibly a finish with 12K.

Reason behind going to 8K and than "dulling" with a 4K only to return to 8K is...?

 

[Krodor]

Wheres that popcorn??

Great question, and many of us wonder the exact same thing and thus think it silly.

From what I can tell, there are a few of us who find it useful and use the technique to their advantage.


If it works for you, great! As to why it would be advantageous, I think I recall someone had a good reason, but I forget why.

 

[drjay9051]

Just found this post:

03-16-2013, 03:33 AM

#3​

Legion

2903

Join DateJun 2009LocationAussie, Aussie, Aussie!Posts12,537Images2​

Pyramid honing is a way of making a relatively simple concept seem overly complicated, to mystify newbies, and keep them paying other people to hone their razors.​

-David

WWHLD?

Wake me up when Laphroaig releases an aftershave.
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​

Maybe so.

 

[Seraphim]

David sums it up nicely in that post.

 

[drjay9051]

Never having honed but tired of paying others $25 plus postage I am ready to take the plunge.

Tomorrow I get a Norton 4/8 and a Chinese 12 k. I'll just skip the pyramid and go from 4-8-12. Than a strop and see how it shaves.

i do have some ferrous oxide .1 micron and crom oxide .3 so might try that as well.

Also have an old strop and considering either the diamond spray or I believe it is called boron nitride?

Come to think of it back in the day and i'm talking say 50 years ago i imagine folks got a great shave off stone only so i just may apply the KISS method at first.

I can see a whole new addiction here !!

 

[Fuzzy Chops]

I understand the pyramid technique but not theory.

Why hone on 8K stone only to knock down the edge and than rebuild it again and again.

Logical tells me to take a 4K as far as I can than 8K and than possibly a finish with 12K.

Reason behind going to 8K and than "dulling" with a 4K only to return to 8K is...?

The explanation would be more controversial than the pyramid technique itself.

 

[buca3152]

It does give a step by step that works. But doing a similar amount of strokes on each grit works just as well and is more efficient.

 

[professorchaos]

Pyramids ... advocated by those who hone for a fee to befuddle and frustrate those who are learning to hone.

Skip the pyramid. Set the bevel, refine the edge on subsequent hones.

 

[Marco]

Pyramids ... advocated by those who hone for a fee to befuddle and frustrate those who are learning to hone.

Skip the pyramid. Set the bevel, refine the edge on subsequent hones.

I'm not an honemeister or an expert honer by any means, but I'm quite happy with my edges and I totally agree with Henry, my first honing Master. Set a good bevel and refine the edge on natural or synthetic stones, whatever you like honing on.

 

[daflorc]

Sooo... I refuse to hone anybody's razors and thus won't take a fee...

That being said, honing is NOT as easy-peasy as some might make it. I sat for a couple months with my norton 1/4k, and my coticule, and my kaniyama synthetic, and scoured the forums for helpful advice, only to frustrate myself that the shave still tugged after all my efforts. The pyramid method is perfect for new honers out there, because it helps ensure that the bevel is set, and makes extra certain that you've spent enough time on each grit progression. Still, the biggest gun in your aresenal is your chromium oxide on a cloth strop. That will make the difference once everything else is complete.

BTW - did anyone tell you that you're likely going to have to lap the thin, course surface layer off your Norton before you use it?

 

[blackhhawk]

Never heard of this pyramid method but am curious as to what the process is.

Daflorc, not everyone thinks an edge refined from Crox is comfortable. I find it to be a bit harsh so I stay away from that stuff.

 

[ouch]

Never heard of this pyramid method but am curious as to what the process is.

As far as I can tell, you take your edge up to a very fine level, then breadknife it and start all over. Well, close enough.

 

[Seraphim]

Sooo... I refuse to hone anybody's razors and thus won't take a fee...

That being said, honing is NOT as easy-peasy as some might make it. I sat for a couple months with my norton 1/4k, and my coticule, and my kaniyama synthetic, and scoured the forums for helpful advice, only to frustrate myself that the shave still tugged after all my efforts. The pyramid method is perfect for new honers out there, because it helps ensure that the bevel is set, and makes extra certain that you've spent enough time on each grit progression. Still, the biggest gun in your aresenal is your chromium oxide on a cloth strop. That will make the difference once everything else is complete.

I see what the problem was....

 

[Seraphim]

As far as I can tell, you take your edge up to a very fine level, then breadknife it and start all over. Well, close enough.

Beginning at 2:34 of the following "how to" instructional video you can see a demonstration of pyramid honing.

 

[ouch]

That hone needs to be lapped.

 

[Mike H]

I am happy to Pyramid hone anyone's razor. "Shave Ready" not Guaranteed.

 

[Alum of Potash]

Isn't a linen strop or a refresher paste, barber hone, etc. a kind of "pyramid"?

 

[daflorc]

I see what the problem was....

LMAO, if I only just used these stones as a base for my lapping film

 

[daflorc]

Isn't a linen strop or a refresher paste, barber hone, etc. a kind of "pyramid"?

no. lol.

 

[BDF]

As I understood it, it was called the Ponzi technique. That is where you offer to hone razors at no charge for 5 people at a time at first. Next cycle you make the same offer to 7 people; send the first 5 out to the first batch of customers, keep one to shave yourself with and sell the 7th. The next cycle requires 9 razors and so forth until 1) you have a pile of razors and 2) a pile of money. At this point you take your money and razors and escape to some small island in the Caribbean leaving behind only the image of a smiley icon painted on the wall in chromium oxide.

Brian

I understand the pyramid technique but not theory.

Why hone on 8K stone only to knock down the edge and than rebuild it again and again.

Logical tells me to take a 4K as far as I can than 8K and than possibly a finish with 12K.

Reason behind going to 8K and than "dulling" with a 4K only to return to 8K is...?