Southern Ontario Honemeisters

Hi everyone,

I recently bought my first straight razor while I was in Vegas several weeks ago (from the Art of Shaving), and, after doing my research on this site, asked the ever important question, Is this razor shave ready. The sales associate assured me that it was definitely shave ready. Once I got home to Hamilton Ontario, Canada, I couldn't wait to try my first straight shave. Much like many other first time shavers in this forum, it was a very disappointing ordeal. So I headed back to the internet to discover that, indeed, My razor was not shave ready.

So, as this is my first and only straight razor, I feel that it would be irresponsible of me to try to learn how to hone with it, and I was hoping that there was someone around that knew of a honemeister in either the Hamilton area, or in Ottawa, as I will be traveling there in a couple of days.

Thanks so much for the help (pre-emptevly).

I'm curious as well, thanks for posting the question.

I've got a few razors and am picking up my hones this weekend...some local instruction would be great.

Hey there,

If you want to learn to hone your own razors, there is an incredble amount of information, and some great videos in the Wiki section of the site. I have watched them, and have honed a Shumate back to shave ready based on that information.

As for honemeisters in Ontario (I live in Toronto), I'm fairly sure there are none. However.....if you check the classified section of this site, under the honing/restoration header, you will find Daniel Gauther, aka Floppyshoes, who lives in Quebec. Print off his form, mail your razor and a cheque to him, including return postage, and he will hone for you. I did this with my first razor, and he put a great edge on it.

Hope this helps,
Maxi

Floppyshoes is the only one I am aware of in Eastern Canada that specializes in straights.

Thanks so much for everyone's help!

I went to a knife store near London, in Ingersoll I think, a few weeks ago that offers razor honing and restoration. Also, they sell new and vintage straights and strops. Decent selection of stuff, but I haven't tried anything they've honed.

On The Edge Collectable Art & Cutlery, Canada's Largest Knife and Sword Store

I'm in Mississauga and have been looking for a while myself. It sucks to get a new razor then have to send it out to get it honed. I've got a set of hones and I am getting the hang of it. I still prefer to have the nicer ones done by someone who knows what they're doing.

I didn't know about them, that could make for an enjoyable day trip sometime next week!

You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize what a great resource this is, and the more I become thankful to all the members here for their kindness in offering up a free resource, and in their enthusiasm for straight razors, and all things shaving. Perhaps I am going through a bout of man-o-pause, but it's nice to be part of a community that is friendly and willing to help anyone that asks.

SRP is my new little addiction (as my ladyfriend giggles). I love to sit here at night with a dry martini and read the posts. I find it very relaxing, and it gets me excited for the morning coffee and shave.

Thanks for the post about Ingersoll - I have some friends in London I haven't seen in a while, and I'll be in KW in a couple of weeks....time for a day trip as well. I'll kill two birds with one stone.

Cheers,
Maxi

Quote:

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Originally Posted by new2shave

I didn't know about them, that could make for an enjoyable day trip sometime next week!

You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize what a great resource this is, and the more I become thankful to all the members here for their kindness in offering up a free resource, and in their enthusiasm for straight razors, and all things shaving. Perhaps I am going through a bout of man-o-pause, but it's nice to be part of a community that is friendly and willing to help anyone that asks.

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I just went there the other day to get some materials for scales. They are more knife orientated so most of the scale materials(they have ALOT or materials though) come in 5" pieces which are generally unusable for razor scales. He does have quite a bit of stuff in 1/8' thick pieces that are big enough to cut multiple scales from for reasonable prices. The prices are about the same as online suppliers, minus the shipping charges. Lots of types of rod in different thickness to. no washers though.

Digging this from the grave. Did Floppyshoes get a name change or?

Floppyshoes hasn't been active at SRP for some time, so it's unlikely he is still responding to private messages. I think it's fair to say he's out of commission.

You can try contacting Maxi, he's based in Toronto.

Unfortunately I think Maxi is on a sabbatical from working on razors but you could PM him to actually find out.

Bob

Arsin, If you're looking for someone close to Toronto you can try Phil Sanchez @ Classic Edge. He's just outside of Hamilton but all work done through mail only. They sell razors but also they offer honing service. I purchased a razor from him a few months ago and he did a very good job honing it to shave ready. Here's their web page and email is theclassicedge@gmail.com

The Classic Edge Shaving Store Your Straight Razor Specialists.