How long to hone?

[Jim Evatt]

My dad was a barber back when they used straight razors. Once his razor was truly sharp and honed, he would hit the leather strap about four times on both sides, shave the customer, and usually hit it again same amount before the next customer. Back then, all he had was a very fine stone and the strap. I was the shoe shine boy through high school.

[Bruce Haugen]

I just finished sharpening a couple block plane blades and a wide chisel. One blade was A-2, one was O-1 and the chisel was a Berg. I don't know what kind of steel is in the Berg.

The initial grinding was done on a cast steel plate with 3 micron diamond, followed by a 6000 grit water stone and finished on a leather strop with gold stopping compound. They are all very, very sharp. The strop is a wonderful way to finish.