Thread: Should I hone or pay to hone? A noobs question...

Originally Posted by ChristGuard

So, do I need to hone it, or just strop the heck out of it? Should I get a finishing hone (If so, can you suggest one for me to buy) or should I just pay someone to hone it for me? I love to learn new skills and save money, but is it worth it for me?

I'm thinking yes to all of the above. If you got 20+ razors send a few to people to experience different, quality, edges. Get a finshing/touch up hone to easily maintain them, try some chromium oxide, it's dirt cheap, on balsa or leather for even easier touch-ups or to add a little extra polish. Then buy more abrasives and get learning honing from the ground up using the benchmark edges to give you an idea of what you're aiming for.

There's a million options and opinions out there. Personally I find between a 6x2 coticule/bbw with slurry stone, a King 1k/6k & a DMT 325 8x3 I can keep my stones flat, hone from the ground up, touch up razors and keep every metal edged object in the house sharp for many years to come. Hones also seem to hold their value pretty well so you can buy, try & sell, which is nice.

Buy a beater razor - I'm talking scabby and nasty and most importantly: cheap. Gold Razor, in particular the ~$10 ones, fit the requirements for this. Get a 3-4k and an 8k stone, then play around in spare time - set a clean and uniform bevel with the lower grit and then refine with finer stoke. It's not that complex but it does require practice, regardless of whether you buy a million varying hones or just a couple.

For the use you're proposing to make of it, get it done professionally and add chromium oxide paste to a linen strop or piece of felt etc... Should Tide you over for a while providing you don't damage the blade on the faucet or drop it etc...

There is alot of good information on this thread. With that said you will find that that there is alot of things in this is subjective. I my self want to be a part of this way of life. The razor I started with was honed by a pro, then I got a GD to practice honing. I use the pro honed as my bench mark. Shaving with a straight is enjoyable, unless your blade is dull.So if you just want a good shave Have a Pro hone it. And ENJOY SHAVING.

Don't get a beater razor. Poor practice equals poor results. If you're honing away at something that won't take an edge and has issues you aren't learning what you need to.

Won't take an edge? Barring a razor that is unsuitable, such as those listed on the 'brands to avoid' guide, what would constitute such a razor? Small chips can be honed out and it'd have to be rather crazily uneven hone wear that meant it couldn't be remedied. These examples assume that such a 'beater' razor has defects - if not then a bevel needs to be set and then refined.

I don't wish to sound confrontational so please don't feel this is the case.

Gold Dollara often need a lot of work before they will start to take an edge. Then they can be finicky.
Getting a beater razor as you mention I caution against. Removing chips and such can be frustrating when trying to learn to hone.

My suggestion still stands. If your just starting out. Look to your brothers on this site as a source for shave ready razors. You'll have a contact to communicate with and when your ready to try honing on your own you'll have your razors previous owner right at hand.

Originally Posted by Christel

Won't take an edge? Barring a razor that is unsuitable, such as those listed on the 'brands to avoid' guide, what would constitute such a razor? Small chips can be honed out and it'd have to be rather crazily uneven hone wear that meant it couldn't be remedied. These examples assume that such a 'beater' razor has defects - if not then a bevel needs to be set and then refined.

I don't wish to sound confrontational so please don't feel this is the case.

Some old beat up blades can have many issues. A blade that's lost its temper will never take an edge. A blade with rust and pitting down near the edge might never take an edge, or take a lot of work to get to good steel that will hold an edge. A blade that has a large amount of hone wear or uneven hone wear can have a screwed up geometry and wont take an edge using ordinary honing. Some old razors have "chippy" steel.

But then some old beat up razors are perfectly sound. The problem is knowing what's likely to be OK and what's likely to be not.

James.

How is it just going to lose its temper? Only if you've tried buffing it or something and got it way too hot. Yes?

Originally Posted by Utopian

I'm still available for a honing lesson in person. Think of all the postage you'll save!

~~~to the Op...here's yur maun (Utopian), and what a great way for you to be introduced into this hobby...learning from others that have been around the block...hands on...can't beat it. That'd be my recommendation for you

Sure, you could send it out, but what will you learn about the process?



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.