do any good "honing machines" exist?

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05-09-2009, 03:43 AM
MuzzleVelocity

do any good "honing machines" exist?

Are there any simple machines that a complete noob could use to aid in honing? I'm sure that hand-honing by an expert would give the best results, but would something like a paper-disk sharpener possibly give better results then my first attempt at hand honing?

I am still planning on sending my razor out to a honemeister when it arrives, but I'm just thinking ahead. I'd hate to spend all the money on a set of hones and then end up ruining my blade in a month when I try my own honing.

I guess I could just buy a second razor, and alternate sending them out for honing.... Man, this can get to be an expensive hobby! definitely will be hiding the credit card statement from the wife for while :w
05-09-2009, 03:46 AM
nun2sharp

Get your razor professionally honed and buy yourself a barbers hone, youll keep your razor shaving sharp indefinately without buying 20 pounds of rocks.
05-09-2009, 04:44 AM
Utopian

He probably wouldn't appreciate being called "simple," but given that Lynn hones 20 to 30 razors per day, I'd say he is the closest to a honing machine.
05-09-2009, 04:51 AM
VeeDubb65

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Get your razor professionally honed and buy yourself a barbers hone, youll keep your razor shaving sharp indefinately without buying 20 pounds of rocks.

+1

In my experience, not so much with razors, but with honing anything, a machine is take up space, not to as good a job, and risk destroying what you're trying to hone on it.

Stick to the K.I.S.S. principle on this. Like the man said, start with a perfect edge, try not to do anything stupid (like knock a chunk out of the edge on the faucet) and you can keep it shave ready for ages and ages with a barber hone, and/or pasted strop depending on your preference.
05-09-2009, 07:02 AM
gugi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utopian

He probably wouldn't appreciate being called "simple," but given that Lynn hones 20 to 30 razors per day, I'd say he is the closest to a honing machine.

Funny that's exactly what I was going to write - yes there is, located in Medina Ohio the top model is called 'Lynn Abrams' :)
05-09-2009, 11:11 AM
Disburden

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Get your razor professionally honed and buy yourself a barbers hone, youll keep your razor shaving sharp indefinately without buying 20 pounds of rocks.

He's right. You can find swaty hones on ebay. Just make sure they're not the fake ones and they're the real deal. The fakes will say "Three-line", etc on them. The real ones will have 2-3 lines of writing on them and say they're from Austria. Also look out for bad chipping and pits in the hone before you buy it.

Even if you don't want to learn how to hone (I thought I didn't want to know either, but now I'm addicted to honing) you should be able to use a barber's hone easily. They only need about 5 strokes to do the job.
05-09-2009, 02:12 PM
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. YouTube - Honing a straight razor on a Shinko machine
05-09-2009, 02:31 PM
Lynn

The hard part about the machines like this is the grit plates too. It's hard to find them fine enough to be able to shave off them. There is a ton of possibility for problems on these machines ie, heating blades, over flattening edges and spines, etc. Good for repairs though and even making wedges.

Lynn
05-09-2009, 02:32 PM
Chimensch

Quote:

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. YouTube - Honing a straight razor on a Shinko machine

His name is moviemaniac and he hangs out at the Shave Den alot.
05-09-2009, 03:33 PM
Neil Miller

My father can remember a machine in a barbers shop when he was young - the barber put the open razor into some sort of carrier or belt system, it got taken into the machine and came out ready to strop. I've never been able to find out what it was called or what it really did, though.

Regards,
Neil
05-09-2009, 04:01 PM
JimR

Quote:

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.
05-09-2009, 04:41 PM
ben.mid

Quote:

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.
05-09-2009, 04:43 PM
Chimensch

Quote:

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.:gaah:

Quote:

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.
05-09-2009, 04:47 PM
Chimensch

Quote:

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.
05-09-2009, 05:32 PM
Givvingett

re: do any good "honing machines" exist?

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
05-09-2009, 06:14 PM
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'. :D
05-09-2009, 06:17 PM
JMS

Quote:

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'. :D

Damn Jimmy! A man after my own heart!!! I thought I was the only neanderthal left!:D
05-09-2009, 06:43 PM
Leighton

Quote:

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!