Thread: Online book for newbies

Originally Posted by ben.mid

"Most men have the idea that honing is a difficult operation and should be undertaken only by expert cutlers or barbers. Very few seem to think that they can hone there own razors. How this impression became current, it is difficult to say. We venture to assert, however, that honing a razor is at least as easy as stropping it. In this case as in many others, the difficulty arises from supposing there is a difficulty."

Quite a useful statement that a few here could do with remembering perhaps? Sometimes the ability to sharpen a razor can seem to be surrounded by rather too much mystique, I think. Also, I can't help but suspect that a certain amount of this is simply propaganda.

Thanks for posting.

Well, I have not found it as "easy as stropping".

Attainable perhaps, but certainly not a simple thing.

I would think if it is done long enough, or as a hobby or job, it can become just as easy but then again what can't become easy with practice. I am going to school online for a degree in IT and my Associates was based on Web Design. The programs used to create web sites was not easy to use a first but as time went on it became easier. Now I am working on learning how to fix computers better than I already know how to in my Bachelors.

Plus I am waiting for the stropping thing to become easy so if Honing is as easy as stropping I am in trouble right now.

Those of you that have followed the "cold shaving" thread probably remember this book (page 50 to 55). I am not sure that I agree with what the book says about soaps etc. In terms of the alkalinity of the soap, most soaps nowadays are closer to a neutral pH. There have also been a lot of new development in the field of surface chemistry that would make me think that the information presented in this book may not be as accurate. At that point (1905) the theories today well accepted among scientists, developed by Arrehnius and van't Hoff were probably not completely understood. It is hard to say for certain what effects dominates under these conditions without doing a more thorough investigation. Bear in mind that most people considered the atom to be indivisible in 1905, just something to consider... I would not undermine the considerable anecdotal (historical) value of this book. I think that everybody should read it but keeping in mind its intrinsic limitations due to the date in which it was published.

The cold shave per save is a different story and I have commented with several people about this. I had the chance of experience first hand the conditions in which Jimmy (JimmyHAD) shaves and I can tell you, in those conditions, it sure make a difference for the better.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by TSasser

Those are great books. The one from The Library of Congress was very informative. It did seem to contradict some things that I have been reading, mostly the lather part, but the soaps are different now-a-days from back in 1905.

The info in the book makes perfect sense and I am going to try and incorporate the instructions from the book and other readings into my practice, maybe I will be able to get some real lather instead of bubbly soap for once and not nick myself .

I agree with Alraz, the best thing I got out of this book was the cold shave part. Don't think I will shave with hot water again, except maybe sometimes in the winter!

Originally Posted by jeffegg2

Well, I have not found it as "easy as stropping".

Attainable perhaps, but certainly not a simple thing.

No, it's not as easy as stropping, but it's not as hard as many imagine.

No matter how easy it is though, the honemiesters will always have their place. A full set of hones is expensive.