Thread: Sterilization and Self honing vs Honemeister

I use a healthy soak in drugstore alcohol to sanitize. I just got into honing to keep cost down. I used 3M lapping film this weekend to bring two e-bay specials to shave ready. I set the bevel on 9 micron and progressed through 5/3/1/0.3. Stropped on linen and leather to finish it off. They were my first hones, and total start up cost of $25. With sheets I received it's probably a 1 year supply (ymmv). The best part was that it took no honemeister skills and total time for both was about an hour. Additionally, I'll clean the razor up with Maas metal polish. It will clean the scales up nicely and remove any tarnish on the blade.

For blades that are new or I have used on someone else, I pour hydrogen peroxide on the blade. Its a very effective sanitizer, better than alcohol. If it foams blood or staph is present. After that, I wash carefully with soap and rinse with water followed by alcohol. With rubbing alcohol, 70 percent is more effective than 90 percent, and it has to air evaporate to be effective. Wiping it off defeats the purpose. Do not use bleach, it may be a great sanitizer, but it can cause discoloration and sometimes pitting if left on the blade.