Thread: Learning to Hone on a Junker - Worth the Effort?

Maybe instead of getting the Tony Miller practice strop, you could use one of these to practice stropping on your regular strop. Not like you could nick your strop...

Get one of those Chinese white-handled double arrow razors. I used it to practice and I shave with it. it's like 20 dollars with shipping

good idea, bad razor i also picked up a cheap razor to learn to hone on but it was a usa carbon steel blade. look here for a practice razor

razors :: Charming & Cheap Vintage Collectibles

There is something positive here. No use losing steel on something precious. I picked up a Pakistan "Top Quality Venice Razor" at the local flea market for $5.00 about 8 years ago specifically to learn to hone. I learned a lot for a fraction of what it would have cost me otherwise. I finally got it to shave quality, but the edge crumbles easily and will not last. I learned some very subtle techniques that help me to this day.

I still have that razor. It makes a hell of letter opener, and just the right conversation piece for my desk.

I agree whole heartedly!!!! It takes a lot of practice and repitition to build muscle memory, I"m till working on it before I risk even an entry level str8 with my very 'Economical' honing set up!!! I know from this practice that I will NOT be an ace at this bloody stuff, but I'll keep working at it unitl I"m at least decent, Ruddy good fun while learning though!!

As ever, Newbie tinkersd!

Get the most inexpensive razor, pre-honed, from of the members here. It will not only give you a benchmark, it will be one of your most memorable shaves.

Like anything worth enjoying, keep learning!

Originally Posted by WongKonPow

Get one of those Chinese white-handled double arrow razors. I used it to practice and I shave with it. it's like 20 dollars with shipping

I got one of those $20.00 DA's and believe it or not put it to the green cr oxide about 10 passes and stroped about 50 passes and got a great shave.