Thread: Smiling spine/blade

I have seen a post or two that recommended using a "narrow" hone for smiling blades. If this is correct, I am wondering if a ceramic stick/steel would work for the smiling blade at least as a finish hone. Are there any thoughts on this matter??? JERRY

I'm no honing expert, but I have used those types of rods on kitchen knives and other tools. Generally you use those with tougher blades that have less acute bevels.

Personally, I wouldn't put a razor on one.

The edge of a razor is just too thin and fragile, and a honing rod would only contact one point at a time. The potential to creating unevenness in the edge, or even taking a chunk out, is just too high.

If you've got a trash blade to experiment with, by all means go for it and let us know what happens, but I wouldn't experiment with something like that on a razor you care about.

Yes I'd leave the rod aside as well.
You don't need a narrow hone for a smiling blade either.
You can also do half moon strokes on an ordinary wide hone.
Works better for me.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

I have seen a post or two that recommended using a "narrow" hone for smiling blades. If this is correct, I am wondering if a ceramic stick/steel would work for the smiling blade at least as a finish hone. Are there any thoughts on this matter??? JERRY

Narrow hones are good for warped spines as opposed to smiling blades.
Different animal.
It's not impossible to use but can't imagine a ceramic stick is fine enough as a finish hone for a razor.

I've tried the halfmoon stroke with some success but untill I got the 1.5" hones I was never quite happy with the edges. My Oohira and bbw/coti are both 1.5" and do a fantastic job on my less than flat bevels Some are just plane weird and the smaller hone just makes it easier for me.

I also believe that it would be different for every person and their particular honeing style.

Oh yes, it takes some time to practise.
The strokes towards me turn out nice,
but the strokes away from me are still something different.

Originally Posted by 0livia

Oh yes, it takes some time to practise.
The strokes towards me turn out nice,
but the strokes away from me are still something different.

Olivia's comment about the honing stroke "away" versus "toward" your body being more difficult is my problem as well. The feedback is usually different on the away stroke, and I feel that I do not apply the same even pressure to the blade, try as I might. Eventually, as I approach the maximum level of sharpness and evenness of bevel, the feedback starts to feel and sound the same. I can't help thinking that if I could just improve that particular stroke, my honing would go much faster. So far, I have not found a method that insures equal pressure on both honing strokes. Any suggestions?

Different strokes for different folks. I hone left to right, right to left. I intuitively began that way. I wouldn't feel comfortable honing toward and away from the body. I am not saying my way is better. Just what I am comfortable with. I also need a stable surface to hone on and would never feel comfortable holding the hone in my hand though I know that many prefer that method. Last but not least I hone standing up. I find that my stroke is more uniform with my arm hanging relaxed from the shoulder.

I like smiling blades to shave with. Lynn recommends a heel leading stroke with the blade at a 45 degree angle for serious smilers and then their is also the "rolling x". Here in the barber manual in the SRP Wiki help files is some info on honing to maintain a smiling blade and avoid a frown. I used to prefer narrow hones for smiling blades but found that as Lynn says I can use a 3" hone just as well.

Thanks Jimmy! I sit to hone, so my arm is always bent at a 90 degree angle at the elbow while honing. Just lazy, I guess! I will try it standing up and see if I get consistent feedback with each of the two honing strokes.
Getting back to the main subject, I use a rolling X pattern with smiling blades. I have a lot of grinning wedges!

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Narrow hones are good for warped spines as opposed to smiling blades.
Different animal.
It's not impossible to use but can't imagine a ceramic stick is fine enough as a finish hone for a razor.

They've got those sticks for the spyderco sharpmakers in fine and ultra fine. You'd still prolly want to "lap" them the get the surface treatment off, especially the fine. I thought about getting a couple to play around with.