Double Honing

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drmoss_ca
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Double Honing

Post by drmoss_ca »

I accidentally honed a razor twice this week. I have been refreshing the edges of my seven Friodurs starting last Sunday. Not paying attention I honed what I thought were the last two on Thursday evening, then realised I had done the Saturday and Sunday razors rather than the Friday and Saturday. So the Sunday razor was done twice, with a shave between the honings. Today I used it for the first time after the second honing and it was remarkably smooth! Very nearly as little resistance as using a Feather. I think I'll do it again on tomorrow's razor and see if this is a trick worth the effort.

Chris
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Post by EL Alamein »

Dr. Moss, sounds interesting. So I take it that you don't test the razor in some fashion prior to honing to see how close it is to keen?

Also it sounds like you just went to town taking it through the progression again? I am not really surprised that it would be smoother as I am guessing that the twice honing would mimic the pyramid technique. I think that technique is known for making an edge smoother while preventing a wire edge. I do a bit of this when I hone for others.

Looking forward to your report.

Chris
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Post by brothers »

It seems to me that maybe it works, just as you've both stated, but would it be necessary to start at the beginning of the progression, or maybe just going back two steps or so, if the edge is already well established and sharp?
Gary

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Post by drmoss_ca »

As I said, it was done accidentally, and I assumed I was honing a razor that had been used once a week for six months. I did it to today's razor and it wasn't as smooth as yesterday's. I'll experiment some more.

Chris
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Post by EL Alamein »

Dr. Moss, do you thumbnail the edge before stropping?

Chris
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Post by drmoss_ca »

Never!

Chris
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Post by drmoss_ca »

I have experimented some more, and it seems that when refreshing the edges after a few months of use the best way is this:
Shapton Pro hones
2k 12 strokes (or 6 back and forth passes)
5k 12 strokes
8k 12 strokes
15k 12 strokes
30k 12 strokes
8k 12 strokes
15k 12 strokes
30k 12 strokes plus 3-2-1 finish à la Glenn
Dovo/Jemico Red Russian strop 50 strokes

Previously I had gone from the 30k (first encounter) to pasted strops, but this is clearly less sharp. Shaving with a Friodur honed this way is exquisite.

Chris
Last edited by drmoss_ca on Tue Nov 01, 2011 1:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by brothers »

Chris, I've got a couple that seem to need refreshing, so I'll try it your way and see how well it works with my hones (no Shaptons). I have a feeling it'll be very good, and will try to remember to come back and post my findings.
Gary

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Post by Tim Zowada »

Chris,

You've stumbled across one of my "secrets". I've been doing a variation of this for about a year and a half. My face, and my 1250X Zeiss, both agree it is worth the trouble.

My hard hone routine goes like this (we can discuss the tape thing later):

4k, 1 layer of tape, 20 passes
8k, 1 layer of tape, 20 passes
Escher, 1 layer of tape, 20 passes
Escher, 3 layers of tape, 20 passes
8k, 1 layer of tape, 20 passes
Escher, 1 layer of tape, 20 passes
Escher, 3 layers of tape, 20 passes

I do something similar for my finish stropping, on a new razor.
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Post by drmoss_ca »

Aye, Tim, but I don't use up all that tape! :wink:

Chris
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Post by Tim Zowada »

drmoss_ca wrote:Aye, Tim, but I don't use up all that tape! :wink:

Chris
Yea, but I have all those funny lines on my razors. As for the extra layers of tape, I guess I must have some sort of a weird proclivity for tape.
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Post by matt321 »

brothers wrote:Chris, I've got a couple that seem to need refreshing, so I'll try it your way and see how well it works with my hones (no Shaptons). I have a feeling it'll be very good, and will try to remember to come back and post my findings.
Same here. I'll try this.
Now I'm patiently waiting for something to hone!
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Post by drmoss_ca »

I did the remainder of the Friodurs - using just 12 strokes/6 passes on the 8k, 15k and 30k. No pastes. I'm like a pig in shit. So smooth and sharp.

Chris
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Post by jww »

Suddenly I am intimidated by my recent FWEnger special straight, which the good Dr has offered to hone for me ..... :shock:
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Post by matt321 »

drmoss_ca wrote:I did the remainder of the Friodurs - using just 12 strokes/6 passes on the 8k, 15k and 30k. No pastes. I'm like a pig in shit. So smooth and sharp.
Uhhh, what? You mean you double honed except only using 6 passes on each hone and only using three hones?
Please Chris, be more explicit. We all want that p.i.s. experience!
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Post by drmoss_ca »

I was referring to the second step. In total it was:

First honing
2k 12 strokes (or 6 back and forth passes)
5k 12 strokes
8k 12 strokes
15k 12 strokes
30k 12 strokes

Second honing
8k 12 strokes
15k 12 strokes
30k 12 strokes plus 3-2-1 finish à la Glenn
Dovo/Jemico Red Russian strop 50 strokes

Chris

You'll understand that when I first did it accidentally, the second honing was exactly the same as the first, but it makes sense that the second time around should build on what was done by the finishing hones, not destroy it and start all over again. So now the second honing is the three finer grit hones
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Post by EL Alamein »

drmoss_ca wrote:I did the remainder of the Friodurs . . .
Very nice. Now, about those lovely TI's languishing in that converted container . . . ahem . . . :whistle:

Chris
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Post by Squire »

Very interesting Chris, I've not tried that technique before.
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Post by drmoss_ca »

EL Alamein wrote:
drmoss_ca wrote:I did the remainder of the Friodurs . . .
Very nice. Now, about those lovely TI's languishing in that converted container . . . ahem . . . :whistle:

Chris
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Post by JimR »

Chris, I wonder if this works on the same theme as the "pyramid" I've seen around. I never got anywhere with it, but I wonder at the idea. Perhaps the polishing action from the higher grit stones, makes it more effective for the 8K when you drop back down?

I can visualize my idea, but not express it clearly.
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