Thread: Frequency of honing?

The amount of time and edge will last, is totally dependent on your stropping ability, as Glenn said the time will increase as your ability improves.

It is not unusual for an edge to last a month or two for a novice. It is improper stropping that damage the edge, not regular use.

Stropping is very under rated skill. A properly stropped razor will shave for up to a year, with a pasted strop, indefinitely.
The most common problem novice stroppers have is too much pressure, an edge can be damaged with a single stroke.

I've got a large rotation and I might not shave with the same razor twice for months. OTOH, I may have a few favorites that I use frequently. Once I forced myself to rotate between a Ralf Aust and a TI Super Gnome. Used one every other day to see how long they would last.

After a few weeks I got bored with shaving with the same razors and went back to my usual large rotation. I still shave with both of those every so often and they are still fine. So to answer your question, it depends.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

.....Stropping is very under rated skill. A properly stropped razor will shave for up to a year, with a pasted strop, indefinitely.......

+1...I agree with Marty. I've heard accounts (or rather 'read' accounts) of old time Barbers being able to get a hundred + ( or more!) customer shaves with the proper and efficient use of a quality linen/leather strop. When I have a razor that 'isn't quite right' I find that some extra laps (100-200) on the strops will more often than not solve the problem...assuming of course that there is no real obvious edge damage present.

My opinion is that a 'shaver' only ( not a hobbyist or collector ) really doesn't need a set of hones. A rotation of 2-3 quality razors that were properly honed, a good quality strop, a pasted strop, and a quality ( rather inexpensive) Barber's hone for touch-ups will keep you going for quite a long time...as Marty says maybe indefinitely.

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

My opinion is that a 'shaver' only ( not a hobbyist or collector ) really doesn't need a set of hones. A rotation of 2-3 quality razors that were properly honed, a good quality strop, a pasted strop, and a quality ( rather inexpensive) Barber's hone for touch-ups will keep you going for quite a long time...as Marty says maybe indefinitely.

You guys are all awesome I was very tentative about posting this as I knew it was a YMMV thing but I'm glad I did now lol

What is a barber's hone? A finishing stone?

My local barber said he would give me his straight razor, his strop and stone. He said the blade is 50 over 50 years old but in good condition. I'm not holding my breath on the quality of these and will probably stilll buy new ones.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

You guys are all awesome I was very tentative about posting this as I knew it was a YMMV thing but I'm glad I did now lol

What is a barber's hone? A finishing stone?

My local barber said he would give me his straight razor, his strop and stone. He said the blade is 50 over 50 years old but in good condition. I'm not holding my breath on the quality of these and will probably stilll buy new ones.

i would think they would be ok, bear in mind they were tools of his trade, that would see a lot of service, so why would he buy poor quality or not look after his equipment?
Barber hones are a touch up hone basically.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

My local barber said he would give me his straight razor, his strop and stone. He said the blade is 50 over 50 years old but in good condition. I'm not holding my breath on the quality of these and will probably stilll buy new ones.

You might be surprised how nice that Barber's equipment is. A strop (and razor) can easily be recondition. The barbers hone could be all the refinishing stone that you need... I would be real friendly with that barber!

Originally Posted by ChopperDave

I would be real friendly with that barber!

He's giving me this stuff for free, really hoping they are in good condition. He has been cutting my hair for 20+ years, top bloke. He uses a shavette for work and a DE for home.

On another note, should I consider 1.0 or 2.0 micron sprays? (I haven't ordered yet but will be ordering the modular paddle that comes with 0.5 macron spray included.)

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

On another note, should I consider 1.0 or 2.0 micron sprays? (I haven't ordered yet but will be ordering the modular paddle that comes with 0.5 macron spray included.)

Stay away from sprays for a while. Learn to shave, then learn to touch up a razor. Most of us will play with sprays and then stick with the stones...leaving the sprays in our past. Many new guys will rave about sprays and pastes, only to learn that stones are the way.

Given the question, I'll say the same thing I've said many times before.

I maintained a set of 7 razors with just a barber hone for nearly 10 years. No pastes, nothing fancy, just the razors, a strop, and the hone were stored and used from an old humid gym locker. They still shaved great.

I finally looked at them under a microscope and found small microchips but they still shaved just fine. After moving out of state I no longer store or use them in the same manner and primarily use them as my travel set. I have no doubt that I could have shaved with this set for the rest of my life by maintaining them with that single barber hone.

Of course, then I would not get to play with a few hundred other hones!

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Stay away from sprays for a while. Learn to shave, then learn to touch up a razor. Most of us will play with sprays and then stick with the stones...leaving the sprays in our past. Many new guys will rave about sprays and pastes, only to learn that stones are the way.

Can't I use these to extend time between hones? A bottle cost $20 and honing costs me $45.