Thread: do any good "honing machines" exist?

Originally Posted by Chimensch

His name is moviemaniac and he hangs out at the Shave Den alot.

Yeah, but he's EUROPEAN!!!! It doesn't count.

Oh, and for those feeling adventurous: here it is for purchase.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

His name is moviemaniac and he hangs out at the Shave Den alot.

That's the fella! I'm sure he had an add in the classifieds offering honing in Europe. Gone now, unless i imagined it.

Originally Posted by JimR

Yeah, but he's EUROPEAN!!!! It doesn't count.

Thanks for reminding me that I don't live in the center of the universe anymore.

Originally Posted by JimR

Oh, and for those feeling adventurous: here it is for purchase.

There's one thing those bothers me about that machine... unless you remove the scales, you have to hone one side of the razor with the edge leading (like honing) and the other side with the edge trailing (like stropping). I wonder what effect that has on the edge. You would have to take the razor to a finishing hone in any case (the highest machine grit is 6K) so that might make the direction of honing irrelevant.

Another thing just occurred to me, the price of the machine isn't all that bad when you consider that it comes with three different grits.

Originally Posted by ben.mid

That's the fella! I'm sure he had an add in the classifieds offering honing in Europe. Gone now, unless i imagined it.

I haven't seen Klaus around here in a long time. In fact, I just checked. He hasn't posted here since last August and his last post was precisely about this machine. He even answers my questions.

In my opinion "honing" in the strictest sense of the word should be done by a deft hand. Barring a physical disability, one can learn to hone with practice and the confidence that comes with that practice. Some good quality stones are a must, but you really don't have to spend a fortune. Belgian stones and the like are great, but you can get there without them. If you're unsure, then by all means do as nun2sharp suggested and have them worked by a pro to set the edge, from there on in maintenance can be done by you.

Stropping is another animal entirely,..they used to make an "Auto-Strop", it was just that,.. a strop with a roller system, the better ones were actually geared. The machine was supplied with various holders for different grind profiles. You would manually pull on the two strops in a back and forth motion as the razor was held stationary. As to their efficiency?? I have a couple, but have never used them, so I don't know just how good or bad they might be in actual use. Just passing that on for what it's worth.

Regards,

Peter

When I was married my wife wanted a dish washer. I told her they were attached to her wrists. Same with a 'honing machine'.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

When I was married my wife wanted a dish washer. I told her they were attached to her wrists. Same with a 'honing machine'.

Damn Jimmy! A man after my own heart!!! I thought I was the only neanderthal left!

Originally Posted by ben.mid

They do exist, but can do a lot of damage if you're not careful, like most power tools.
Here's one being used. The fella's a member here, but i can't find him, or his add in the classifieds.

I want one!!! It'd be great for restoration work!