Thread: Honing Question - Hanging Hair Test

If you have gotten two great shaves already, you did not get cheated by the merchant! Unless hand honed by knowledgeable people, even new high quality razors are not generally ready to shave. Actually, once you have shaved with a perfect edge it is no longer shave ready and needs to be stropped on a plain leather strop. Be careful to learn how to strop and not roll the edge of the razor. You should not need actual honing for a couple of months. Strop before every shave. Just the name of the game! HHT means nothing. From what you describe, you are on the right track with a great razor.

I know nothing of what your stone is. But if I had to guess, a silicon stone is probably much too course for razors. Most people here use water stones that slowly break up as you hone with them. They are in the 4000 to 16,000 grit range. 4000 does actual ‘sharpening’, 8000 is where you hone to maybe shave ready, 12,000 plus is polishing the razor edge. Until you know what you really have, I’d not touch that stone with your razor.

For what it's worth, some of my razors that will cut a hanging hair won't do so until just after stropping. Others will cut the hair at any time.

As others have said, shave with the razor. If the shave is good you don't need to worry. Once the shave quality deteriorates, then you need to figure out how to get the razor back in shape.


Scott

If you got a couple of good shaves but now get pulling and burning. The edge is simply not as sharp as when you got it. How it got that way is another thing. I would mostly suspect too high a shaving angle & pressure. If you cannot restore the edge thru stropping it 50 or 60 X I suggest getting it honed.

A 1500 grit SiC stone is not for edge maintenance no matter what the ad says.

US $30 - $60 will buy you a nice razor from SRP classifieds. It's nice to have a second razor but I would spend that money on a small coticule. 125x 30mm is what I use. If money is an issue a standard grade rather than select or kosher grade is ok. Again that is what I have. I bought a belgian blue & coticule for about US $60 from Rob at Ardennes. I thought that was easily affordable.
If you start learning to hone with small stones you will never need or want a 3" stone and also warped razors will be no challenge.
Here's a vid you may find useful
http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...cule-bout.html

What might be really helpful is if you can get together with one of the UK members and they can really help you...

As for honemiester's in the UK try a PM to Poona and Blue Principle I think both of them still hone razors in the UK.....

Quote "This is a truly superior sharpening system to not only help you sharpen but also maintain the correct angle."
Hey, it helps maintain the angle too!

Hello!
Where are you based around Oxford?
That stone looks very coarse. I'd speak to them about it, as it doesn't look fit for the purpose they sell it.
Unless you paid extra to have it honed by the shop, they're not shave ready. Not far off it, but not good enough.
There are no great shops round here. You can get strops in Oxford, but they're extortionate, & razors, strops & a few other things in Reading.

I got my dovo honed by this guy in the UK...
http://www.razorsharpening.co.uk/

Thank you all for your advice. I will probably not touch the honing stone for the moment and just uses the strop.

Hello!
Where are you based around Oxford?
That stone looks very coarse. I'd speak to them about it, as it doesn't look fit for the purpose they sell it.
Unless you paid extra to have it honed by the shop, they're not shave ready. Not far off it, but not good enough.
There are no great shops round here. You can get strops in Oxford, but they're extortionate, & razors, strops & a few other things in Reading.

I live almost down town at Cowley place.