What did you learn from honing today?

[Krodor]

I didn't realize just how "sticky" my c12k could get. It can start to squeak. Surely that is a sign to add lather or hand soap to lubricate it enough to finish it, right?

Knowing there are always things to learn, what did you learn from honing lately?

 

[Obiwan]

Not "Today", but a few random thoughts below

- DMTs feel a lot better with a drop of dish soap
- Most coticules finish wonderfully under light running water
- Different shape bouts can be very usefull tools in honing difficult blades
- Pressure isn't as bad of a thing as I originally thought/read (so long as you don't use too much and decrease as you progress)
- Eschers finish best with no pressure. I balance it about half way hanging off my hand to ensure no pressure with final laps.
- I spent too much time messing with electrical tape when I started off. Most blades I hone now are done with no tape.
- Even making the above statement (my preference), I've learned tape is a personal decision and not nearly as big of a deal as some people think. You're razor isnt going to disolve with either choice.
- Honing is very fun
- I have an unhealthy obsession with buying hones. No self control whatsoever.

 

[Proinsias]

One of my Chinese 12k's is kinda like that. At a certain point the razor sucks down onto the hone and really requires a bit of effort to make a stroke, the finish is rather nice if I keep going but it does require a little extra concentration to keep an even stroke.

This month, with inspiration from Alx Gilmour & Murray Carter, I have been mainly learning that less is more. Set bevel, 10-20 or so laps on any other stone edge leading or trailing, optional few stokes on chromium oxide, strop and shave. It's not the perfect edge but I'm getting decent shaves on the first few attempts and beginning to think a huge amount of my honing time has been spent on overkill and edges which look sexy under magnification.

 

[Raithskar]

-I have learned (more than just today) that about 9 out of 10 vintage razors that need some love are a PITA to hone.
-I have learned what the proper reaction the water has when reaching desired keeness on the hone.
-Swedish steel is so hard it might as well be classified as Adamantium.
-I suffer as Obiwan does, I have no self control when I see a purdy stone.

 

[Doc226]

- DMT make quick work of edges and spines if not careful
- JNAT slurry for me needs to be much thinner than I thought
- When finishing on a stone do as much as you need to finish and add 15-20 more laps-I personally don't believe in overhoning with higher grits.
-

 

[Tony1951]

Well I watched this video that was referenced on the Coticule.be website. This guy is honing back and forth on the same side of the razor for a lot of the time, only finishing with forward only strokes. Other honing videos I've seen show forward only passes once the bevel is set.

What I've learned is that I know even less about this than I thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAcsGnajQyQ&feature=player_embedded

The audio on this is unintelligible for a lot of the time.

 

[tomjr]

straights with the edge out of alignment with the centerline of the spine (really bad) can be a pain to hone. it has been quite a challenge to get it shave ready.

 

[cleanshaved]

Koma naguras are released in small batches from the mother pile.
keep looking they do show up.

 

[Raithskar]

Well I watched this video that was referenced on the Coticule.be website. This guy is honing back and forth on the same side of the razor for a lot of the time, only finishing with forward only strokes. Other honing videos I've seen show forward only passes once the bevel is set.

What I've learned is that I know even less about this than I thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAcsGnajQyQ&feature=player_embedded

The audio on this is unintelligible for a lot of the time.

That is Gary Haywood, as the title of the video suggests. He is doing the dilucot method on a coticule. The back and forth strokes, or half strokes as they are offically known, aid in faster removal of metal while using slurry. Adding the water drop during the process dilutes the slurry and refines the edge as you progress to a final finish on plain water. It takes some practice, but is a very rewarding method on our beloved Belgian Rocks.

Gary has used countless coticules, and has been considerd by most to be a master of coticule honing. I am currently waiting on a razor of mine that he honed.

 

[jred]

I've learned that while I may not have much patience during individual honing sessions, I have enough patience to try & try again.

 

[mainaman]

I want more stones to play with

 

[KW Driver]

I learned that honing straights is as meditatively rewarding as knives, now that I'm getting comfortable wih the muscular mechanics of it. Even if I'm only working on "The Devil's Paper" for now.

I need to find a sugar momma, most Ricky-Tik so she can fund a bergioning rock habit I want completed yesterday. That or I need my kids to get full rides. Either would do Santa. If you send the chick, can she please be hot and easy/entertaining to talk/listen too. I've given up on the rich, young, dumb nymphos who's daddy owns a liquor store, and will settle for the revised version. Please and thanks.

 

[Doc226]

I learned that honing straights is as meditatively rewarding as knives, now that I'm getting comfortable wih the muscular mechanics of it. Even if I'm only working on "The Devil's Paper" for now.

I need to find a sugar momma, most Ricky-Tik so she can fund a bergioning rock habit I want completed yesterday. That or I need my kids to get full rides. Either would do Santa. If you send the chick, can she please be hot and easy/entertaining to talk/listen too. I've given up on the rich, young, dumb nymphos who's daddy owns a liquor store, and will settle for the revised version. Please and thanks.

LOL, good luck with the search.

 

[chuckr9]

Last night I went back to my coticules to see if I could get a desirable shave ready edge on a Hart Steel 6/8. I had switched to Lapping film some months ago because I just could not get that final keen/smooth edge on the coticule. I finished on a La Dresante coticule with mineral oil and got the best contcule only edge so far - but still not "there". Still looking for that finishing technique (or skill?) to get razor shave ready on rocks!

 

[Doc226]

Chuck, how many laps did you give on the coticule with the oil?

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Chuck, how many laps did you give on the coticule with the oil?

Doc, I think the edge should already be shaveable and smooth before the oil, surely the oil just gets rid of the mini micro scratches on an already good edge?

 

[chuckr9]

The razor startred "shave ready" from another Forum member, but I want to "improve it". Did 150X on a Yellow Coticule (don't know layer but 175x45mm - so good size) with light slurry, adding water as it darkened. Went to La Dresante (same size) for about 100X with water only then with mineral oil for 125X (very light pressure). Result was good, just not as good as I think the stones are capable of producing (thus I am the weak link).

 

[Alum of Potash]

From the day before yesterday: I have learned that by honing very slowly with a coticule, with tiny circles leading to long, lingering X's, you can really observe how the slurry or water washes over the blade's edge.

 

[Doc226]

The razor startred "shave ready" from another Forum member, but I want to "improve it". Did 150X on a Yellow Coticule (don't know layer but 175x45mm - so good size) with light slurry, adding water as it darkened. Went to La Dresante (same size) for about 100X with water only then with mineral oil for 125X (very light pressure). Result was good, just not as good as I think the stones are capable of producing (thus I am the weak link).

That should be enough, you must be the problem-LOL

Kidding aside, I find that finishing on coticules requires minimum pressure, keep it up soon you will be producing light saber edges.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

Like Alfredo says, my breakthrough came once I learned how to control the blade pressure. Did four razors this afternoon on a similar size coti. One think to mention, the bigger the bevel the more strokes are needed.
I only hone with the stone in my hand so I know if I'm using too much pressure as the stone tends to move too much.
Try and just have enough pressure when finishing to hold the edge flat on the coti, might help you get there.