looking for feedback on waterstones

Re: Roy Underhill uses barber stones with just wat

Wiley Horne

>Thanks Joel and Patrick!

I'll try it. Must be a final hone. Wiley

Re: Has anyone here...FOLLOWUP

George Makowski

>Wiley, I have several razor hones/stones from swap meets and from the old USSR. Their grits vary. I can't give you numbers, but some appear glass smooth while others are like a very fine oilstone.

I sometimes use them on my wood working tools. Mostly, I reserve them for my straight razors. They are best used with a blend of shaving lather from your mug and water. The test for reaching an edge is to wet your thumbnail (lick) and place the edge on it and pull. If the blade sticks (cuts into the nail and won't move) you have an edge. If the blade slide, it is still dull.

The next step is stropping. Typically the strop has two parts, a canvas belt and a leather (hosrehide) belt. The canvas may me charged with rouge, opinions vary. The horsehide is supposed to have a bit of natural abrasive qaulity. In any case, it is used plain.

The sharpening and stopping angles are defined by the razor itself. Lay the razor on the stone so that the thick edge and the cutting endge are both flat aginst the stone. Hone as if cutting forward in single strokes alternating side each stroke. Strop pulling away from the edge at the same angle, also alternating strokes. You know you have stropped enough whent the razor slides silently and smoothly.

You can shave now. Use the same angle as when honing. The gives you a low-angle shearing cut on the whiskers. You will rerely cut yourself, believe it or not.

Good sharpening

Re: Has anyone here...FOLLOWUP

Wiley Horne

>George,

Thank you VERY much for the detailed reply. I'm interested in the hone for frequent touchups on chisels at the bench, and will experiment using it as a substrate for knifemakers' green and fine diamond paste.

Thanks again! Wiley