Thread: Honing Help.

+1 on all the advice... the only problem with working from the top down is not knowing if the bevel was properly set and how - with tape or without? Also, I find that razors take a "shape" depending on who hones them - everyone has a different stroke and while the geometry of the razor mostly dictates the bevel, different honing styles can also affect the shape and profile of the edge.

I think the coticule has to go on the back burner for now - even if you lucked out and got a decent one, it takes a skilled and experienced honer to learn how to use one effectively. You're much better off with standard, off the shelf, proven synthetic hones for learning - Nortons, Ninawas, Shaptons etc. Leave the natural hones for when you've "mastered" the "easier" hones.

If you want to pick a razor to learn on, you have to know a little about razor geometry and what razors are typically "easy" to hone and which one's aren't. I half hollow grind 5/8 (or thereabouts) with a very straight and even edge is a good razor to learn on IMO - it won't flex too much and you won't need to use any fancy strokes to get the whole edge.

I'd be more than happy to send you a great starter razor with a properly set bevel heel to tip (with tape) finished on whatever you want - Shapton, Coticule, Zulu Grey (very nice!), JNat (also very very nice), Escher, 20K, 12K, etc etc. I will also strop it correctly so that you can shave with it right away and feel what a sharp and well-honed razor should feel like.

-john

Well welcome to the forum and wet shaving in general! Exciting!

I started with a brand new Dovo "Best" and a coticule. I am glad I went with a new blade to start. The coticule in retrospect might not have been the best derision for me to start off with. The consistency of synthetics saved me. But again that was me.

Either way, this whole hobby takes some time to learn - and a lifetime to nuance, so its great to hear your taking it slow!! Trying to speed it up leads to angst lol!

Again, welcome to the forum! Look forward to hearing of your progression.

Just do it. See what happens. The worst that happens is you have to send your razor out to be honed. Razors are made out of steel, pretty durable stuff if I recall correctly. I will say one thing is wait a little while till your technique is down. That way you know is the shave was bad its not from your technique but from the bad edge.

My door is open if you need help learning to hone. I have a stones and some razor to practice on. Also keep a eye open for our GTA razor meets, its a great opportunity to learn from many of the guys out this way.

Your stone set up should be sufficient. Buy some Ebay razors, cheap, some american razors can be very cheap. Start with setting the bevel, but first true the edge, because almost all Ebay razors have a uneven edge. After you set up the edge on DMT 1.2K use 4/8 stone and try to shave after 8k. When you can do that, you can start playng with coticule and other naturals. Good luck with flea market, some times I found good deals, but more deals I found on garage sale. Welcome to SRP world.

First I'd like to say welcome, you are in a place to learn whatever you need to, these guys are great and I think if you follow their advice you will have a very good experience. My own journey started 10 weeks ago and I was fortunate to be able to attend a meet-up in my first week, what a great head start. I got a few good razors had them honed by very good honers and got a mentor. By thirty shaves I was getting great shaves.
I also wanted to learn to hone, I'm impatient so sooner rather than later.
It was suggested that I purchase synthetic stones to learn on so I did, Norton 1k,4k,8k, there are others that have been suggested and they are very good also. I then was given a little Solingen 5/8s 1/2 hollow by a generous member here to practice on, I also purchased a couple more good, no-problem razors form members right here, that would be easy to hone on, and inexpensive, these were my practice razors.
I then read everything I could find, which is allot, on honing with the Nortons and then got a honing lesson or three.
I learned how to set a bevel, how to polish and finish the edge to 8k level and how to get a very comfortable shave from that 8k Norton CONSISTENTLY. Then sent razors out that I had honed to be evaluated by very good honers before I moved on to higher grit or different finishers. All of this was great advice freely given right here, I had to but follow it.
Along the way I learned a ton about stropping, something I thought I was good enough at but found I had along way to go and still do. The journey continues but to date I can finish razors that shave very well, I don't have to send razors out to be honed if I don't want to and I can hone with a couple of different methods.
I don't say this to brag as I have too far to go for any of that, simply to share with you how these very generous folks in this community have helped me learn, progress and reach many of my goals.
Seventy shaves in and I am having a great experience, have met many very good and generous people and hope to be able to pass on what has so generously been given to me.
Hope this helps.
With gratitude FrankC

I picked up some cheap ol GD's on amazon for 5 bucks each to practice my honing on. They won't arrive until mid September but oh well at that price.