Thread: Time to Hone?

I have been shaving with the same razor (I own only one razor ) for about two months now. When is it time to send it off to get honed? It still shaves decently enough, but it is getting harder to cut through the tougher parts of my beard.

Also, since this is the only straight I have ever shaved with I am not sure if it was ever shave ready to begin with.

Help?

I would buy another razor , that is shave ready , and send the other razor to be honed . If you're not doing your own touch up honing I think it's a good idea to have more than one razor .

+1 Dave. If you have the means I'd get another razor. I'd suggest the Classifieds normally, but that seems to be an exercise in futility. Everytime I look, All I see is, "Sold", "Sold", "Sold". Unless it's one of my Coticules, They always seem to be available..Ha....Seriously, A Carbon Steel Dovo, nothing fancy, should do you fine. I would opt to have pre honed.
That way you'll know what "Shave Ready" is, and you'll have two razors to use. Secondly, at the very least, I'd get some Chromium Oxide to use. That's great for giving your blades a quick touch up when they start to drag. Chris L may still have some packets. I believe he was selling them for 5 bucks. You can actually use it on a rolled up newspaper, balsa wood, leather, etc...What your describing with your razor is normal wear from use. It needs touching up. This is where a Coticule comes in handy. 15 passes or so, then some Crox and your good to go. Even a barber hone would help you. With one razor, shaving everyday, you'll need to touch it up aprox every two months. That's for a normal beard.

Originally Posted by dave5225

I would buy another razor , that is shave ready , and send the other razor to be honed . If you're not doing your own touch up honing I think it's a good idea to have more than one razor .

This just may be a good way to justify another razor to the wife ...

Originally Posted by Bone

it is getting harder to cut through the tougher parts of my beard.

Yes, it's time for a touchup, the more you delay it the harder it is to get it back. How to go about it is up to you. My recommendation is to give it a try yourself, as I believe everybody should learn to maintain their razors which is quite easy.

Newbie advice.

Order another razor.
Order honing stones.
Shave with the new razor while slowly learning to hone the other.

I agree with the previous posts entirely and think you should learn to touch up your own razors on an ultra fine hone or a paddle strop if you can manage it.

X

At least go the route of Crox if not full out barber's hone. Crox + balsa wood is plenty cheap.