Editing Norton Pyramid Honing Guide

== Why use a Pyramid in the first place? ==

Why a pyramid? I use the pyramid because I have found that due to the delicate nature of the straight razor blade, it is more consistent to work at the edge on the incremental basis utilized in the pyramid method. No science. Just a simple comparison of honing all at once, testing, honing all at once again and testing v. honing with the pyramid and then testing. The pyramid continues to be the winner for me. Much the same as using the X stroke vs. the paint brush method of honing. The interesting thing is how much the pyramid can vary. Because each razor has a different personality and steels can be anywhere in between hard and soft, there are many variations that work. Nothing I have tried works the same every time on every razor.

For years, I just used the Norton 4K/8K with great results. Then I found out about the red and green pastes and had even better luck with them. Then the diamond pastes. Then the Coticule. Again nothing ever works every time on every razor. I lately have gotten away from the pastes as I have found them to be dulling after using the Coticule. 20 strokes, 30, 40, 60, who knows, but great discussion here. The main thing I have found is that you need to have your razor shaving sharp from the hone before pasting. The pastes add that little extra smoooooth that we all seek. Yeah, I think barber hones still suck. They are small, flat, unpredictable, and harder to use for me. There are those of you who love them. Oh well...

I also have a microscope. I don't use it all the time as I have not found the perfect method of prediction of the perfect shave or hone job yet. I do judge the sharpness of a razor by the shave. That will always be my ultimate test. I do like to look at the edge under a microscope now and then, particularly on a tough razor to see if I can tell why it's so tough.

The best part of all this is that just a few years ago, there wasn't all this. It is very cool that we are developing a million ways to get at the prize and I hope it keeps up forever. I remember what it felt like to shave with the first razor I honed, the 50th, the first hundred, the first thousand and so on. It is still a turn on to find out which razors hone and shave consistently better than others. It's even more fun with all the input of our members who are at various stages of wisdom. It's even more fun to watch every new guy come in, ask the same questions and then after a while start imparting what they have learned to others.


== Conservative Honing Ratio == 

This is a suggestion for a straight razor that is almost keen. It shaves but it pulls at the whiskers. I use the thumb test to see when the edge has attained a noticeable change in feel. Then strop for 35 laps on plain leather and test shave.

Repeat as necessary.

Please note that this only applies to the use of a Norton waterstone. It does not apply to Japanese waterstones, a Belgian stone, Arkansas stones, classic barber hones, pasted strops or sandpaper.

Use the [[Sharpness_tests_explained#TPT_-_Thumb_Pad_Test | thumb pad test]] at any point during this sequence and stop if you feel the edge is now keen.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-
! Set # 
! Norton 4000 
! Norton 8000
|- 
| 1
| 1
| 5
|-
| 2
| 1
| 5
|-
| 3
| 3
| 5
|-
| 4
| 5
| 5
|-
| 5
| 3
| 5
|-
| 6
| 3
| 5
|-
| 7
| 1
| 5
|-
| 8
| 1
| 5
|-
| 9
| 1
| 5
|}

== Aggressive Honing Ratio ==

Use this sequence when the razor is not shaving at all.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-
! Set #
! Norton 4000
! Norton 8000
|- 
| 1 
| 15 
| 5
|- 
| 2 
| 10 
| 5
|- 
| 3 
| 5 
| 5
|- 
| 4 
| 3 
| 5
|- 
| 5 
| 1 
| 5
|- 
| 6 
| 1 
| 5
|}

Be sure and use some sort of test before starting so you can evaluate the rate of change that is occurring. I use the [[Sharpness_tests_explained#TPT_-_Thumb_Pad_Test | thumb pad test]] and the [[Sharpness_tests_explained#HHT_-_Hanging_Hair_Test | hanging hair test]]. Repeat the honing sequence as necessary and move to the conservative sequence when you think you are getting close. The goal is to avoid over-honing which can make the edge act like a piece of aluminium foil because it is to thin and weak.

== Credits ==

Credit for making known the honing pyramid technique goes to Lynn Abrams, the
founder of the Yahoo Straightrazorplace forum and the http://www.straightrazorplace.com website.

To Lynn and all the other razor gurus "THANKS !"

== See also ==

This HowTo is also available as a PDF file: [[media:Norton_Pyramid_Honing_Guide.pdf | Norton Pyramid Honing Guide]].

[[Category:Tutorials]]
[[Category:Honing]]
[[Category:Maintenance_and_honing]]