Thread: Newbie honing question

Gentlemen, I've been shaving and learning how to strop and maintain a razor over the last 3 months. The question I have is or I should say theory when learning to hone (Yes I've read and reread wiki, learning reading trying) How long does it take to get consistent results? What I mean to say is while I would never put myself in the same catagory as Lynn or the other more accomplished members I'm doing ok 5 or 6 out of 10. I was wondering how long it took some of you to feel a level of accomplishment at honing? I think the one thing I've learned is that every razor is different and what works for one may not work for another. Is this true or am I kidding myself and should chalk up inconsistent results due to inexperience? Yes I have bought good hones Norton 4000/8000 Naniwa 10000 and 12000 and super lapping block. Thanks in advance

I would also not put myself in that pantheon of honing, and, so far, I've only honed one razor from 1k up, which turned out well (and I thank my supervision for that) but I would say that, without a doubt, different razors may not take different methods, but they will all react differently to the same method...

Allow me to rephrase that: The same method of honing may work for two razors, but it will usually have slightly different outcomes depending on the blade. The big thing about honing is finding what works for you and for your razors, and sticking with it.

And yes, swinging a 60% on honing is definitely a good start. Keep at it and you'll just get better.

The way you asked the question shows that you understand the complexity of what you are asking. Consistency comes from experience and hence, it takes time. How long? nobody can tell you. Lynn has told me several times: "honing is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get". I am sure that he gets the results he is looking for more often than me but he still has to experiment to get them.

The first time I honed, I got a super sharp, super smooth razor. I was very happy. It took honing a few more razors to realize that it was going to take a bit longer to master this skill. You experiment with several things until you find what works in your situation. The good news is that you can do this over and over until you get it right or send it to a pro. Perhaps the only thing that I would recommend is not to buy hone after hone in hope that you would get better results.

The best advice that I can give you is to post asking if there is an experienced honer in your area that to help you with this, it almost never fails.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by metalfab

<snip> Is this true or am I kidding myself and should chalk up inconsistent results due to inexperience?

Yep. Some blades perform differently than others on the hones; imho of course.

Inexperience? Yeah, probably.
I'm not in a honemeister class either, but I do hone and maintain my own blades. It took me a while to get the hang of honing. I've noticed others on the board who claim a very short time.

It is a guess from me, but I would think that something like this is open to the individual and not set in stone (pardon the pun). In hindsight, I look back on my own learning process and I see that I did not recognize some self induced factors that were slowing down my learning process. I didn't recognize them because I was new. I am still learning and/or playing with honing so I don't know if I am new, seasoned, aged, crusty, or what ...

It took me a while to get a consistent shaving edge because I am the human equivalent of a bull in a china shop.

IMO, to use other's time line progress as a benchmark is a bit off target and leads to frustration. Just keep at it ... you will get it sooner or later.

I couldn't tell you how long it will take for you either. I know it took about six months for me to get consistant results. Still I find a razor now and then that is just stubborn. I have been a knife maker since 1980 and always honed my knives in an arc on the stone. That didn't work for me on razors. I finally learned to slide the razor across the stone in a straight line pulling it from heel to toe instead of the arc and it works for me now. I am certainly not a honemaster either but I get the job done and my razors are sharp and will pass the HHT and shave smoothly now. Practice is the only way even if you have the chance to learn from someone. You will still have to practice, practice, practice. Getting a knife really sharp is not hard to learn but getting a razor sharp enough for a smooth shave is. I think almost anyone can learn it but having some instruction from someone will greatly speed up the process.

Originally Posted by Alraz

The best advice that I can give you is to post asking if there is an experienced honer in your area that to help you with this, it almost never fails.

Al raz.

This is great advice if the opportunity presents itself. I learned the fundamentals from an experienced member who had been to SRP meetups and honed with Lynn and others. It still took a lot of razors and an obsessive dedication to honing one after another for me. I don't hit a home run every time I come up to bat and how long it will take depends on the individual's aptitude and the amount of practice IMO. With time and practice an understanding of what is going on develops and then if you have developed the skill and have the tools,i.e. hones, consistency starts to come.

Thanks to all who have replied. I think from what has been said it gives me confidence that I'm on the right track. I feel a lot better that I'm going down the same path everyone else has been on at one time or another. Again , thanks.

metalfab, are you using a microscope to monitor each individual razor's progress in your developing hands?

Look at me, I couldn't possibly know all I know after two short years

Now, are you saying 1/2 the time you just cannot get sharp so those go back in the drawer and you use one of the successful ones; or 1/2 the time the end result is not what you expected so you must touch up some more and maybe even again?

The latter is not uncommon by my reading. It happens a lot. Could just mean you need to refine your pre-shave test a bit more. As well be sure to try new things; with the stones but especially with the strop.

No I have not yet got a scope ,thats on the list but I do try to use a loop 20x. I know I need something a little better.