My honing makes it duller

[bnlsrv]

Jeff, can you give me some tips on honing?
How much pressure do you use?
Is the last strop lighter then the first?
Can you make a knife dull by honing at the wrong angle?
How do I know if I'm at the right angle when I'm doing it freehand as shown in your video?
How do I know when I need to put more compound on?

I got the chisels sharp though - still waiting for my 3rd cut to heal!
Bill

[Jeff Farris]

Angle is the most critical element.  If your tool is dull after honing, you have brought the angle up too steep and rounded over the edge.  Unfortunately, there is no magic way to learn how to hone properly.  However, there is no chance of harming the tool by having the angle too flat.  The worst that can happen if the angle is too flat, is that you won't remove the wire edge or polish the scratches from the grinder.  Therefore, if you hone at a low angle, and check your results, you can then increase the angle slightly, and "sneak up" on the correct angle.  It takes a little practice, but you should get the hang of it in a few attempts.