Thread: Is honing really rocket science?

Back in the old days, I assume guys had to sharpen their own razors. Was this the case? If so, there was no youtube, no SRP, etc to assist. We have been given so many advantages with sites like this, youtube videos, and other forms of instruction. It seems to me that if they could do it back in the days before safety razors, we should be able to handle honing. I have not honed yet as I am a total newbie, but am I off base here? Is honing something that a reasonably intelligent newcomer should be able to handle if they buy the proper stones (such as Naniwa set for example) and some cheap razors (Gold Dollar) to practice on?

Not a rocket science but it has a learning curve. It is not hard to figure out how much pressure to use when drawing a razor over the hone surface. It is a bit more tricky to establish some sort of test for the edge progress on the hones. Once you do that you are good to go. From there you will be dealing with all kinds of situations , warps, frowns, tow off the hone, heel off the hone etc. Those take experience to learn how to deal with, but if you have some awareness of what honing is about you should be fine.

Your practice razor has to be a good piece that can surely take an edge. Get a GD that is bad HT and your result may fool you to believe you are not producing a shave ready edge. A quality vintage straight will not cost much but you will know for sure you have a good edge when you have it.

Mayby you can on a GD but you never get a desent edge on those razors. What mainaman said is treu. Go to a lokale fleymarket and buy a cheap vintage razor.

Not rocket science but repetition and feel, we've got MUCH better hones than they did with synthetics. They had the advantage then with the ability to have someone show them how to hone. The long time veterans on here basically relearned the lost art of razor honing

Originally Posted by jeffrx

Back in the old days, I assume guys had to sharpen their own razors. Was this the case? If so, there was no youtube, no SRP, etc to assist. We have been given so many advantages with sites like this, youtube videos, and other forms of instruction. It seems to me that if they could do it back in the days before safety razors, we should be able to handle honing. I have not honed yet as I am a total newbie, but am I off base here? Is honing something that a reasonably intelligent newcomer should be able to handle if they buy the proper stones (such as Naniwa set for example) and some cheap razors (Gold Dollar) to practice on?

I'd add that "sharp" when you did it yourself might be a much different thing that what "shave ready" means today. Which is why you probably saw the de razors excel - you knew you were always getting a shave ready edge and it was easier to shave; hence you saw your Rolls Razors and other kits/sets that provided an ability to maintain an edge.

Without the edges we get today, at least from a well done 8k shave ready edge, or well executed barber hone ( i.e, the barber honed your razor) I can't see shaving with a straight being an enjoyable experience��

Nope. More of a craft.

Thanks for the replies and ^ very funny video!

Sir, what I have done is went around and bought around 6 to 8 razors from Antique stores, bought a 4000/8000 grit Norton Water stone, I got a cheapo China made one at a gun show and used it for honing and stropping practice, I have a strop and some Chrome Oxide on the way from SRD. My strop right now is a piece of chrome tanned leather from a Tandy Leather shop.

I'd agree with what has already been said. A reasonably intelligent individual should be able to learn to hone. It is a fairly long and frustrating learning curve to get a decent consistent handle on it, usually. Same applies to learning to get a consistently decent shave from a straight razor. Neither is rocket science but then if it was easy why are there a large number of posts from noobies have trouble with shaving with a straight razor or getting a good edge on a blade?

Bob

My contribution to this thread would be that "back in the day" just about everyone had a mentor living with them A.K.A. Dad. A lot of people now a days can't even sharpen a knife without a gadget or guide. When I was a kid it was a right of passage to be able to sharpen your knife. Want it sharper? Watch Dad, ask questions, and practice. Today people need all of this (youtube, forums, ect..) because there usually isn't someone in your house that can show you which is why a mentor is recommended so often on this site.

And no it isn't too difficult to learn depending on your skill set, expectations, time to practice, and equipment. In fact touching up a razor can be very easy. Setting a bevel and honing to shave ready is a bit more involved with time and equipment. Restoring and creating an edge and bevel and then setting it and honing up to shave ready is much more involved. Some people want to hone their first blade from bevel on up to an amazing DE blade sharpness and give up if they don't so expectations are a big part of the difficulty too. I destroyed some razors in the name of experience but you should see my first buck knife I sharpened. It is now a toothpick. Of course now I am more than happy with my knives and straight razors. Just my 2c plus some rambling.