Thread: Who does their own straight honing?

It was recommended that I re-post this question as a poll. So the question is, how many straight users also hone their own blades? Now I'm separating honing for the purposes of maintaining their own blades versus restoration (they are different beasts).

• I send my blades elsewhere for honing (I am new to the hobby and not ready yet)
• I send my blades elsewhere for honing (I am seasoned - just choose not to hone)
• I hone my own blades for maintenance
• I hone my own blades as well as restore them

You forgot the voting poll tho

Originally Posted by aespo

You forgot the voting poll tho

lol - you were way too fast. I was just filling in the poll details as you replied It's a two step process.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

If you had PM'd and asked I would have helped you do this is the original thread and BTW that isn't a poll...

Mods Cannot just edit your posts without your request so I can't help unless you ask..

PM me or another Mod if you want help

haha - oh man you guys are too fast.

Originally Posted by EggSuckingLeech

haha - oh man you guys are too fast.

Yes we are

Although I have a 12k grit stone I touch my blades up on, from time to time I voted for option two. Like many things in life I find interesting, I must weigh out what hobbys and interests I collect.

Well I don't want to get ticky tacky with an answer but after almost 4 months of doing this..I honed my first razor just the other night from an ebay pick up. I am waiting to get a decent stubble to try it out to see how the shave test works. I will be maintaining my own hopefully from here on in.

I have a Norton 4K/8K stone but I will wait until a while before I try my hand in honing. For now I will send my razors off to be honed professionally. I did buy a couple of inexpensive but decent quality razors to practice honing on when the time comes. I eventually want to get into making scales and reconditioning.

I maintain my own blades. I started with just a Naniwa 12k and thought that's all I need because I'm not going to set a bevel. Then one day I noticed I had a Naniwa 5, 8, 10 & 12k. What happened?!!! I'm thinking I won't go any lower than the 5k for awhile. I just finished my first 5 & 8k pyramid yesterday and that's all I need to sharpen a blade in good condition. Any lower than that I feel like you are doing Bevel work and I'm not ready for that yet. I also bought a Swaty but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

I voted yes....however there is a caveat! I have only started recently....but only with cheap razors. I bought quite a few GDs. Terrible QC, but the steel is ok, and it is certainly good enough for me to learn with. I trashed one with my first attempt but was successful with the second. The razor gives a really good shave ...although just a little harsher than my professionally honed razors. Once I gain some consistency and learn to polish the edge to a higher degree I intend to put my more expensive steel to stone.