SRP threw me a life preserver
I have always had an uneasy relationship with honing. One time I'll do a great job and the next time I can't get a satisfactory edge.
One ulterior motive I have in buying most of my razors here in the Classifieds is that these sellers are excellent honemeisters. I have several I use sparingly because they give me a benchmark of what a properly honed razor should feel like on the face.
Anyway, I was really discouraged and was willing to change my way of doing things if I could only get "that" edge that shaves so well.
I found this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXuIu...KIXcva-pXDCAX3
I use the same Shapton glass stones so I took notes and taped them to the wall, and I got the results I wanted.
The major change I made is that I quit taping the spine and junked the idea of double bevels. I feel bad because I have been recommending this approach to save the spine from hone wear, but I was tired of the results. I'd make 40-50 strokes with the taped spine when the video recommended 10 strokes, and still get disappointing results. So I figured I wasn't preserving my razors after all.
Anyway, I improvised a little but the video was the gateway to getting the results I wanted. I reset the bevel, starting with the 4000 grit (because I didn't think going back to the 1000 grit was necessary) and finally achieved the results I wanted.
Another thing I do differently from the video is use two hands to guide the razor across the stone. For some reason, I just can't guide it with one hand.
I think I've finally figured out how to hone after four years. Some people are born mentors and, well, I'm a natural born novice. But I got the edge I wanted.
Thanks for all the well-honed razors and video demonstrations.
