Four years of futility has finally vanished

[bach9135]

I have been struggling for years trying to hone these bastards only to fail utterly. So on a recent business trip I took some time out to visit Randy Tuttle and asked (begged actually) for some help.
I dragged my stash of stones and razors on the plane (got barely under the weight limit) and with his mentorship I was able to learn enough to hone a razor to grade A shave-ability.

I couldn't-a done it without him and I am very grateful.

Thanks, Randy and all the best.

[northpaw]

Congrats!

Any possibility that you could post what you'd been doing wrong and what you learned to overcome it? Might be a big help to some folks.

[JimmyHAD]

Randy (randydance062449) is a great guy and always willing to share his knowledge with members new and senior. He helped me a great deal on the telephone when I was new and feeling my way in honing. Lynn Abrams did the same. Made all the difference in getting on the road to successful honing.

[Bruce]

Yup, Randy is one of the good guys and he only lives a couple of miles from me.

[ben.mid]

God man! You're persistent! Well done for persevering. I'd have smashed my hones to bits in disgust long before four years came round.

[bach9135]

I got very frustrated and ended up just buying a lot of razors to deal with the pain.
I did stop trying after a while since I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. When I met with Randy, there wasn't really anything I hadn't heard before but (besides getting the personal critique) the epiphany was that i was stuck thinking in two dimensions. I was too nervous about keeping the blade flat and by incorporating a very slight "U" motion on the z-axis from tip to heel I finally got a good, even bevel the length of the blade. The rest was easy.

I still need a lot more practice but I have been going back to the dregs of my collection and getting those puppies actually useable. I am totally shocked. Now I have the 180 or more razors to hone and try out. I guess I could still try for that 365-day set.

[JimmyHAD]

Now I have the 180 or more razors to hone and try out. I guess I could still try for that 365-day set.

My kind of guy !!

[hi_bud_gl]

I couldn't-a done it without him and I am very grateful.

Thanks, Randy and all the best.

Randy is Great Person. Did you buy Russian vodka ?
Thank you RANDY.

[Milton Man]

I have been struggling for years trying to hone these bastards only to fail utterly. So on a recent business trip I took some time out to visit Randy Tuttle and asked (begged actually) for some help.
I dragged my stash of stones and razors on the plane (got barely under the weight limit) and with his mentorship I was able to learn enough to hone a razor to grade A shave-ability.

I couldn't-a done it without him and I am very grateful.

Thanks, Randy and all the best.

Great to hear your new success, Bach - Randy really is a first class gent.

Please tell us - what were you doing wrong all these years and what tips and tricks can you pass along to help out the rest of us?

Thanks,
Mark

[Sailor]

I am totally shocked. Now I have the 180 or more razors to hone and try out. I guess I could still try for that 365-day set.

Man you have some amount of honing to be done there
Honing that many razors in a short time would surely lead into stress injury (in your hands and/or hone) unless you take it carefully. Good luck !