Thread: Confused about Japanese Honing

I was just watching JimR's videos on youtube, which are great Jim thanks!, but on his razor he puts he flat side of the razor on the hone to do most of the honing. I just took aquired a japanese straight in which the bevel has been set on the hollowed side of the razor. The razor is brand new so I am quite confused.

its the geometry of the blade,
same with traditional japanese knives

Originally Posted by mainaman

its the geometry of the blade,
same with traditional japanese knives

What I mean is that he does the most of the honing on his flat side but on mine the honing was done on the curved side.

Originally Posted by JonnyO

What I mean is that he does the most of the honing on his flat side but on mine the honing was done on the curved side.

can you post pics?

like this? MY Japanese Style Straight Razor [MYRZ1] - $200.00 : JapaneseTools.com, The Finest Japanese Woodworking Tools

Yes, pics would help.

For what it is worth, the terminology used to describe the two sides of the razor can be quite a challenge.

What you are calling the flat side of the razor is also the side without the writing on it, correct? I've heard people call this the back of the razor, but it is actually considered the front, and of course this is the side that touches your face. The side of the razor with the writing is the curved side and is also sometimes called the back of the razor.

I think Jim's point about honing is that the side with all of the writing only gets honed for one-half lap, in the direction of the spine, and only after ten full laps on the side without the writing. If you look at the geometry of the metal itself, it's pretty clear that this is the only way you can hone, so I'm not sure what's up with your razor.

Seeing it would help!!

well if the flat side is indeed flat you wont be able to see the bevel at that side
as it follovs the blade angle

Originally Posted by JeffE

Yes, pics would help.

For what it is worth, the terminology used to describe the two sides of the razor can be quite a challenge.

What you are calling the flat side of the razor is also the side without the writing on it, correct? I've heard people call this the back of the razor, but it is actually considered the front, and of course this is the side that touches your face. The side of the razor with the writing is the curved side and is also sometimes called the back of the razor.

I think Jim's point about honing is that the side with all of the writing only gets honed for one-half lap, in the direction of the spine, and only after ten full laps on the side without the writing. If you look at the geometry of the metal itself, it's pretty clear that this is the only way you can hone, so I'm not sure what's up with your razor.

Seeing it would help!!

No, no,no. The concave or back or side with the writing on it is the side you shave with. The front or convex side you don't shave with. yea I saw Jim's video too and I swear in some of his shaving strokes he using a 90 degree angle. I'd never do that but obviously it works for him.

If you look at the cross section of the razor you clearly see the razor is canted towards the side with the writing or concave side. I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why would you shave with a razor where the edge is canted away from your face. It makes no sense to me. Kind of like using a wood chisel backwards.

The side with the writing gets all the honing. The other gets minimal honing.

I thought explanations I have offered previously were pretty good ones Bigspender, I must be on your ignore list or something.

Both sides of the chisel can be wrong-at times, so naturally both sides have uses. With w-k you can roll up the angle when shaving whisker/omote. For instance the coup'dm. the curve of the edge is now aligned a quite a shallow angle.

As you say, and I agree using the ura for the shaving side as you say allows you to lay the spine near, and/or on the skin. Just like the occidental gems we adore, a slit tilt up on the spine works very nice.

This is why I use both sides. I have not nailed down which is the better move; of late though I have use ~largely wtg with the ura. Then atg using the barber style omote. As well I have already written some thoughts on bevel balances which you guys may have seen in Jim's thread. Feel free to comment.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No, no,no. The concave or back or side with the writing on it is the side you shave with. The front or convex side you don't shave with. yea I saw Jim's video too and I swear in some of his shaving strokes he using a 90 degree angle. I'd never do that but obviously it works for him.

If you look at the cross section of the razor you clearly see the razor is canted towards the side with the writing or concave side. I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why would you shave with a razor where the edge is canted away from your face. It makes no sense to me. Kind of like using a wood chisel backwards.

The side with the writing gets all the honing. The other gets minimal honing.

This is not what I have been told by three different barbers.
The Omote, the "flat", non stamped side, is the side you hone, and the side you shave with. The Kanji are on the curved side so you can SEE them when you shave/hone.

Apparently, the honing cants the edge toward your face. The Ura, the "curved" stamped side, is curved IN, so if you shave with it, it's more likely to dig in and cut you (according to Kawaguchi-sensei).

Again, this is just what I've been taught by the barbers here, I have no idea why or how or what. I follow my lessons, and it works for me.

Also, you're right, in my video it really DID look like a steep angle...weird. It's not that steep in the mirror.