Thread: A razor to learn to hone with

It hasn't been long since I started shaving with a straight, much less since I started honing razors for myself, so I don't have ton of wisdom to bestow on anyone just yet. One thing, though, that there seems to be a lot of lately are threads in which someone posts that they intend to learn to hone using a razor that is less than ideal for the purpose, probably a vintage razor that has seen better days. The idea is that there's no harm if they mess the razor up. A couple things that you should know:

You shouldn't expect to ruin a razor learning to hone. It's possible, but so was badly cutting yourself when you started shaving, and you managed to learn enough from this site to avoid that, right? So read some more and watch some more videos and don't expect to ruin your razor.

Cheap vintage eBay razors are not cheap just because they need honed. Learning how to hone is not about learning how to grind back bad spots on the edge and hone out chips. These things can be learned once you know you can put that edge back on, which is not the same thing as touching up your razor.

I'm not saying don't try. A lot of guys get bent out of shape because they think more experienced guys here are telling them not to try. Just try on a razor that only needs honed, rather than trying to hone a razor that needs significant restoration work.

Pick a razor that's reasonably easy to hone. Buying that big worn Sheffield wedge that you want to restore is not the best place to start. A hollow-ground 5/8 with the name of an old hardware store on it is more up your alley, assuming it's in decent shape. If you don't know how to tell what decent shape is, read more before you buy.

I figure..as long as no rust/bug bites along the edge..your fine to buy it and experiment..all the other marks n stains that aernt near the edge are "aesthetic"..5/8 blade widths tend to be the easiest to start with..my first was a 7/8 Sheffield..yea took me months to master..so did rehoning my personal razors too..lol

Good advice, there's a reason there's often an extra charge for honing a 1/4hollow/wedge. A hollow ground, wther it is 5/8 or not is much easier to learn to hone with, also stay clear of smiling blades, stick to regular straight blades as smiling blades require rolling x-strokes, save that for later.

One should also be aware of frowning blades, then we're stepping into the restauration subject again.

There's a thread somewhere of what to look for when buying vintage razors, but I couldn't find it right now.

Agreed. I picked up a razor from the classifieds here, and during the time it was being shipped to me, I got very impatient! I wound up buying a pretty banged up Torrey at an antique shop in hopes I could get it shave ready, giving me 2 razors to learn with. Well the first razor came, and it was beautifully honed and in amazing shape (the Torrey looked like crap next to it). I then gave my Torrey a go on the hone, and I got it decent, but not where it should have been at all. It had a slight smile and I couldn't get the very toe sharp, and it also had uneven hone wear (I obviously had a very green eye when picking out this razor). So I tried again, then I got crazy with tape and honing, and then I got frustrated, and now it's just sitting in my box, not shave ready at all - and it will stay there for a while yet.

So I learned the hard way to stay away from honing for a bit. It's a difficult thing to do, but it probably pays off in the long run. But... it's just a really difficult thing to do!!!

when I first started getting into straights 2+yrs ago..I sent my razors to my good friend in the UK..lol..yea I live in Socali..oh well..nice guy..I loved his Coticule edges..haha..but sent my razors out for a year before getting into stones..I didnt like the Norton/Naniwa stones at all...so I settles on DMT1200 Diamond Plate and a vintage 6"x1/5" combo coti...been very happy since..I can even hone my full wedge on my coti..just gotta REALLY angle it and make sure both sides of the razor are flat..DONT rock it back n forth..lol..tiny nicks..dont effect anything but I know they are there..If I am on ebay..I tend to stay away from frowning blades..slight smiles are ok to use..just more work when rehoning

Great thread

Honestly nothing irks me more then this statement

"I am going to buy a few E-bay junkers and learn to hone, don't really care if I wreck them" to my ears that is total disrespect to the history of the blade

Easiest way to learn honing is to learn to touch up a blade that was already shaving...

ie: Get two shave ready blades, shave one put the other aside, when the first starts to slip learn to bring it back to shave ready, you have the second blade to compare your abilities against...

Keep that up until it is easy peasy, then let it slip to the next stage down "Sharpening", after you have that down, lastly try the "Bevel Set" by that time you should be pretty darn good...

Thanks for the great post Dfriedl!



Michael

great post, I couldn't agree more.

I can see how a guy could get excited and want to hone for the sake of honing - it's fun! But I have to admit I don't really get the idea of honing a beater time an time again unless you have a really slow muscle memory thing going on, because frankly - I can't tell if I have done a good job honing unless I shave with it.

Maybe one day I'll be able to put my thumb on the blade like gssixgun and conclude things are all right in the world lol, but as it stands right now, I can't - and nor can any new guy.

Well that's my view on it anyway lol.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Great thread

Honestly nothing irks me more then this statement

"I am going to buy a few E-bay junkers and learn to hone, don't really care if I wreck them" to my ears that is total disrespect to the history of the blade

Easiest way to learn honing is to learn to touch up a blade that was already shaving...

ie: Get two shave ready blades, shave one put the other aside, when the first starts to slip learn to bring it back to shave ready, you have the second blade to compare your abilities against...

Keep that up until it is easy peasy, then let it slip to the next stage down "Sharpening", after you have that down, lastly try the "Bevel Set" by that time you should be pretty darn good...

This is an old thread but I've been reading everything I could find about honing in preparation to start. This thread is one of the best things I've read. This quote from gssixgun is great. It gives a good starting point for me. Now, all I need is an inexpensive second blade with a good edge for comparison