Thread: Beginner Hone Question

Hello everyone, I'm new to honing and straight razors in general and just had a couple questions. I got my first straight razor recently (SS Boker from SRD) and after my first few shaves with it, I wanted to try to re-hone it. I know, way to early, but I noticed some small nicks in the blade (if they can even be called that) and wasn't sure what to do about it. In hindsight, the shave was still pretty good (I'm still learning and missing spots but the blade was working), so I probably should have waited.


In any case, I started with the 1k Norton to reset the bevel and then moved to the 4k/8k stone. I thought I did a good job, but the shave last night had the razor going over my face, but not popping the hairs. I took a picture of the blade, but I'm not sure if it's a good enough picture to get any advice. Anyway, just wondering if the bevel looks right and what I should be doing to get a sharper blade. I've read the WIKI on honing, shaving, beginners, etc. but there aren't any really good pictures of a properly honed edge to compare to. Any advice would be great. Thanks!!!

I know this not what you are going to want hear but send it back to SRD for your free honing and put the hone away for at the very least three months.

Send the razor to be rehoned, and get a decent quality cheap practice razor to learn honing on.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Send the razor to be rehoned, and get a decent quality cheap practice razor to learn honing on.

This is excellent advice. Far to many new guys try to learn to much to soon. At this stage of the game, put your efforts into learning to shave with the straight. I started this game in 1969, and for five years had nothing but a barber hone and strop.
JMHO Very Best, John

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to try the magic marker on 8k and see if I can't get a shareable edge. If not, I'll send it back to SRD and hopefully they can tell me what I did wrong along with the re-hone.


I also bought a cheap ($45) Boker Vintage off the bay to practice on. It appeared to be in decent shape except maybe a bit too much hone wear on the spine, but something to learn on I suppose.

Oh, and I did t use tape on my first go per the videos I watched of Lynn and his recommendations on that subject. Mine isn't a show piece (per se) so I was more concerned with a consistent bevel and edge.

Any other advice, comments, suggestions are definitely welcome. Also, if there are any home masters here in Metro Detroit that wouldn't mind a short lesson, I'd obviously appreciate it!!!

Here's the link to photos of the hone practice razor. What do you guys think? Also, is there a good person here to restore the blade? I didn't see anything in the classifieds or vendor section.

Auctiva Image Hosting

You "might" not have needed to reset the bevel. I had a tiny nick (wouldn't even show up on a photo) near the toe of my razor a month or two back & a few strokes on the 8K side of my Norton got rid of it completely. If you want to try again before sending it off for pro honing then get a marker pen/sharpie/whatever & mark the edge on both sides, then do a few very light pressure strokes on each side using the 8K side of your Norton, if it doesn't shave now you're not going to make it any worse with just brief work on the 8K. The marker should rub off evenly & right to the edge, if it does then the bevel is probably alright & the edge just needs a bit more, if not you then it could be bevel work, or maybe just tape the spine a bit more. This is information I've gleaned from the knowledgeable folk here as I've never had to reset a bevel & I've put my straight through the side of my finger & nail & it only needed a touch up.

The other question, did you strop the hell out of it after taking it to the stone? You really do need to put in a proper amount of laps after honing to get the best out of it.

I'm sure you'll get some better/more experienced advice than this though.

The norton lapping stone is good it just needs to be lapped itself first. Some 80 grit wet dry and a flat surface will get the lapping stone flat and ready to go.

And yes I know that it sounds really dumb that the flattening stone I'd not already flat

I see "Stainless" etched on the blade, which means a hone job takes longer but lasts longer.

Do you use a piece of electrical tape along the spine of the razor? If you do and the original honing person didn't, or vice versa, that could make a difference. I use the tape to preserve the life of the blade and minimize hone wear.

Recently I went through a period where my shaves seemed to tail off and I realized I had been lax on watching my angles. 30 degrees or less does a better job getting the whiskers and getting a smooth, comfortable shave. Pay attention to the angle at which you hold the blade to your face next time.

I have three years experience with a straight and perhaps the main difference between you and me at this point is that I have decided what I like best with regards to hone, razor size, soap, aftershave, etc. Enjoy the journey, and know that all of this will eventually come together with time, experience, and sometimes with advice from someone who has been there.

Just as an FYI - just shaved with the Boker from SRD after taking another shot with the 4k/8k earlier in the week, and.... got a much better shave. Nicked myself a couple times, but it was getting the job pretty well. Not as well as when I got it from Lynn, but I'm sure he used a to finishing stone and/or spray.

I still plan on sending it in for a rehone but I'm glad my efforts weren't completely wasted too. I was going to be pretty upset if I got another terrible shave. LOL!