Beginners Tips: January 2011

So the first thread of tips for the second year of this series..
A refresher for those just joining the program :) I base each months tips on what I read on the forum and what I receive by PM from members...
There is no rhyme or reason to the topics :D


Beginning to hone:

This seems to be the hot topic of the month and often times it is...
Some hints that I think anyone considering honing their razor should understand...

What hone do I need, well there is the million dollar question, that has launched a thousands questions, and as many different answers...
There is only one correct answer "The one the matches your needs, wants, and face"
There is no best hone, there are at least 100 different opinions on what is the best one for every question :D

You need to decide what your needs are for the hone, to even start the process, which leads to hint number 2... Don't even think about buying a hone until you have an idea of what direction you are going to head with this hobby...

In the Wiki is a complete list on Honer types and what they need also the list is in the Honing section...

How to start honing:

The easiest razor to hone is one that only needs a touch up.
Here is a plan for beginners... Most everyone recommends starting with two shave ready razors.. so follow this little plan

Shave with both razors until they need re-honing, send 1 back for re-honing and learn to touch up the second, using the hone of your choice (you have to read the guides and the forum to make that decision)...
This gives you a razor that still has a bevel set to learn on and a second Pro-honed razor to compare your honing too ...

You have seen this written in many places by most anyone who hones a ton of razors..

"90% of the work in honing a dull razor is in the bevel set"
This statement is so true, the biggest problem for new honers is they just don't realize how sharp that bevel needs to be before moving on .. Then you throw in the fear of over-honing, and IME every single razor that has ever comes to me for help by a new honer is just lacking on the bevel set...

I have never to this day had an over-honed razor sent to me for honing or for help.... YET :)

So if you start with a razor just coming down off peak sharpness your chances of success just went up by 90% :) since the bevel should still be good...

Now the exceptions...
Honing a razor is not easy for most people, it really is more of an art than science...
All razors are not the same, many require what we call "Honing Gymnastics" to get them right..
Those "Honing Gymnastics" all do one thing, and one thing only, they make sure the edge is drawn evenly across and down the hone...
If you can do that enough times and the razor is of quality steel it will get sharp, simple huh???

Now for one last comment, if you ask what hone you need, the only answers you are going to get is everyone's own personal opinion...
Most all of these opinions are from only that person's experience with 1 maybe 2 different systems or hones...
There are very very few people that have honed on multiple systems with many razors to actually have an experienced opinion.. and those people know that they cannot ever tell you what hone will match you face the best.. That is one thing you are going to have to make a decision on yourself...

As always please feel free to add to this post, Especially the senior members as the more points of view we present the better it is for the new guys... (Note that I never mentioned the name of any hone during this)

First i got a chep set because it was usable(i didnt like it at all)

I then tryed something else cheap that was recomended for finish(and it was not what i was looking for)

I got a setup that is widely used here and finally results appear(but sinse i changed so much already the step wasnt far to want a slightly different finish)

Now i have retiered 9 hones that have little or no resale walue exept the ones i consider trying again at some later point

Do not get the cheap set, get a reasonable touch up/finisher
If you get a full set get a good one in case it dont fit your taste

Last: Chanses that someone close to you have a few hones they will let you try may be good(depending on where you live) and is probably the best chanse you have to form an opinion before you make a desition

[/QUOTE]
Last: Chanses that someone close to you have a few hones they will let you try may be good(depending on where you live) and is probably the best chanse you have to form an opinion before you make a desition[/QUOTE]

+1 on this excellent statement. This exact scenario has helped me discover a style of hone that I like, and that works well for me. If it hadn't been for the generosity of another member who lent me his hone, I would not have had this opportunity and discovery.

I think the problem with a beginner selecting hones is that there are so many options, and it's impossible to know what you'll like if you haven't used anything. It's impossible to tell if you like something if you don't have a basis for comparison. It's also impossible to tell if you like something if you don't know what you are doing...
When I started honing I bought a complete set of very popular synthetic stones. I ended up selling them about a month later because they weren't "the right stones for me".
It turns out that I just sucked at honing.

IMO I handicapped my progress by trying too many hones early on.