Thread: Double Ducking Hone System

This is a honing system developed for use with micro abrasive film or lapping film. It is advertised as a one-stop hone. Below are my impressions from using the Double Ducking Hone System.

Ease of Use

The hone is fairly easy to use. You lay a 3"x8" sheet of abrasive paper on the leather top. You unscrew the two sides and insert the ends of the paper between the base and the metal plates. Be sure to flatten the sheet in order to avoid making the paper bunch up. Screw the nuts tightly and that's it. It can be tricky at first because you have to position the paper appropriately so that there is enough paper left over to fit between the plates. You may have to remove and readjust.

The process of honing a blade is straightforward. There is no need to do an X-pattern so it's merely a uniform, back and forth motion. While many people hone on paper with the spine leading, I find that to be unecessary if you are cautious. I hone with the edge leading, similar to use with all hones.

Quality

The quality for the unit is above average.

It measures 3"x10", which is sizable. However, if you like to hold your hone in your hand, this may be too big for most people's palms.

The base is made of strong wood and is sturdy. I believe the leather is an option for stropping your blade but the leather is rough and uneven. As a result, it can ruin your edge. Also, if you prefer to use water on the paper, it can seep through to the leather.

The unit has rubber feet that assist in keeping it in place.

I don't like the fact that the screws can easily be lost. I admit that it is the user's responsibility to retain all necessary parts but lost pieces isn't something you'd deal with when it comes to a Norton 4K/8K, for example.

Resistance to Wear

With proper use, the base should not need to be replaced.

However, the paper will invariably wear and you must consider this. If you hone many razors, then this hone may not be for you because of the cost of replacing the paper. It may be more practical to get a stone. I like diamond lapping film (DLF), which is more expensive than aluminum oxide paper, because I feel it lasts longer than other paper and I like the resultant edge.

Efficacy
As far as actual use is concerned, the Double Ducking Hone works well. If properly installed, the paper will stay in place and your razor will be sharpened. Currently, the hone comes with one sheet of 15 micron, 5 micron, and 0.5 micron, respectively. I prefer a more traditional progression so I use diamond lapping film at 6 micron, 3 micron, 1 micron, and 0.5 micron, respectively.

I used this successfully to remove chips from a Friodur and to make it shave-ready. Using the original paper, I couldn't achieve the level of fineness I wanted. Even with the DLF, it took me considerable time. Without a large group of people who have experience with films, be forewarned that you will mostly be on your own. Nonetheless, you can still have success.

Overall Value
I bought the base with the two screws, the two plates, and the three 3M micro abrasive films included for $45 USD shipped. The seller, Paul, shipped it to me from his location in Canada.

While the DD Hone System works well, I find it to be more than is necessary. You can duplicate this process by buying marble tile or another flat surface to serve as a base. Then buy film with a PSA backing and affix to your tile. To save even more money, you can affix the film by dropping some water on the tile beforehand. That should hold the paper in place. You can glue the tile onto a block of wood to provide more depth but essentially, you have same system.

Due to the savings in cost by making your own hone, I would not recommend this product.

Sources:
If you want to buy film, for this system or for your own, here are some sources:

Tools for Working Wood - New York
Precision Surfaces Interational - Texas
Lee Valley Tools - Canada

Thanks for that great review.

Thanks for taking the time to write that up in great detail. I know quite a few guys have been waiting to hear details about this product.

thanks for the review i have been waiting for someone to a in depth review on one but i think i will hone with a stone

I have the system as well, and I'd agree with most of the review. My overall impressions are a bit more positive than TstebinsB's though.

The system certainly works very well. And it cuts nice and quickly in my experience. Sometimes I'll be honing on my Nortons, and I'll get frustrated with how slowly I'm progressing. If I switch to the DD system, I'm done in no time. And the finest film produces a lovely, mirror-finished and shave-ready edge on my carbon steel razors. I've never tried stainless.

I think the system actually represents pretty good value, especially since the price includes shipping. (Shipping boxes from or even within Canada is expensive.) You can spend a lot more than $45 on a single stone, and the DD system can replace several stones. Sure, you could make your own. But not everyone is inclined to do so. And the DD system is well thought-out and executed. Right down to the non-slip feet.

You do have to replace the films regularly, but they're CHEAP. Lee Valley sells them for about $2.50 each, and each sheet can be cut into 3 DD-sized sections. So that's under a buck each. Just buy a bunch at a time and don't worry about it.

As a side note, the instructions recommend using a trailing-edge stroke, like on a strop. But like TstebinsB, I've had no problem doing leading-edge strokes. I assume the trailing-edge stroke is recommended to reduce the risk of cutting the film, but as long as it's clamped in tight, I've never had a problem.

Anyway, I'm quite happy with mine. I'm not going to throw out my other stones, but I like having the DD as part of my honing arsenal.

Mike