Thread: It's Here! Now then, to hone or not to hone?

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Sirnanigans, you are in Chicago. There is a large contingent of straight razor shavers in the busy metropolis of my former home. Go to the link below and scroll down to Illinois. There you will find TwistedOak listed as a honing/help resource. You only joined this month and have a long, enjoyable road ahead of you. Read the Library, or at least the FAQs. A lot to be garnered there. Start your trip with a properly honed razor, you won't regret it.

Local Help - Straight Razor Place Library

There are a few meets here and there in Chicago, take advantage of them and meet fellow shavers. For all you know, there may be one living right next door to you.

Well, I am about an hour and a half away from Chicago. For those who don't know where Crystal Lake is, I just list Chicago.

I am hoping, perhaps in vain, to not drive so far. I have been researching local pros, but it seems like the trip is inevitable.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I still send out the occasional razor to keep new benchmarks around. I have used edges from quite a few people. It is nice to try them even though I am quite capable of honing.

Same here. What I found more often then not is that my edges were just as good and in many cases better than those of blades I had sent out. Still I did learn from Ace that there are new obtainable levels and it was useful to have a blade from someone else as a comparison.

Sirnanigans, just for chuckles, under advanced search in the membership area, enter Crystal Lake, IL. Ya never know what might come up. If no one, try nearby communities. Worth the time to check.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Sirnanigans, just for chuckles, under advanced search in the membership area, enter Crystal Lake, IL. Ya never know what might come up. If no one, try nearby communities. Worth the time to check.

Hmmm. Perhaps not a bad idea. I'll take a look.

Especially if this is your first straight, I think it's a good idea to get it honed.

If you try and hone it yourself, and your shave is bad... you wont know if its your shaving technique, or your honing technique that is the problem. So you wont know what kind of adjustments you will need to make!

I say go for a pro honing. That way you know how sharp it needs to be and how smooth it should be

Please go for pro honing! If you mail it off, you'll have it back in a week. Believe me, it's worth it. Otherwise, if you try to hone right away, you could wind up with a really nice looking razor that needs to be completely reworked to fix it AND even if you don't "ruin" it, you will never know if it's as good as it could have been.

Alright, verdict is in, then. I suppose I will have to stomach waiting another week. Thanks for the advice, everyone.

Having lived up there in Grayslake for 7 years, everything is around an hour drive away. Hang in there. This sport is about the relaxation it brings. Read my post in the beginner section on Anticipation and have fun!

Originally Posted by Sirnanigans

Well, I am about an hour and a half away from Chicago. For those who don't know where Crystal Lake is, I just list Chicago.

I am hoping, perhaps in vain, to not drive so far. I have been researching local pros, but it seems like the trip is inevitable.

Have the first one honed by a pro, Buy another even if it is cosmetically a junker . Then as you learn to shave you will know where the razor is supposed be by comparing your work to the pros. I would buy the 8k 4k combo and a 1k for the bevel. If you cannot afford to do all this, by all means jump in a have a go but do not give up. Great rewards are ahead. Save you $$, you are going to get an addiction