Thread: Choosing a Hone Meister

Thank you for removing some of the mystery of bevel setting, gugi. My first challenge was whether to learn to use a Coticule, Japanese water stones or Shapton glass/diamond sets. I decided on the Naniwa stones as they are reasonably priced, readily available and seem to be consistent. I thought of buying a Shapton 30K until I saw it would cost over $1,200 to buy that one stone, a holder and lapping plate so I'll leave those to the professionals who can cost justify that kind of investment. Coticules are fascinating but seem very artisan like and probably mystical for a beginner like me to master. I'd need a muse to learn to use one although there is a website I found that tells all about them but they don't say where I can hire a muse! For now, Max and Lynn can keep me sharp when my razors need to go below a 5K Naniwa. Thanks Fal - - Mike Slate

I can see where such intense honing might be very valuable to someone who collects turn of the century razors and wishes to restore them to as close to their original condition as the remaining metal and scales allows. It is also very relaxing to perform manual tasks. It employs a different side of the brain than all the analytical work I did professionally. I used to build radio controlled model airplanes and would find myself lost in time sanding balsa and gluing parts together. This being California, the field was lost to the goonies so I found myself back on the air as a ham radio operator (N6TEA), playing my guitar (or more like 'playing at it'), and now straight razor shaving and caring for them. Anyway, Fal, since you are in Central OR, you might enjoy visiting my great uncle's barber shop, long ago in the hands of another but if it's still there, look for the cast iron child size horse on the barber's chair closest to the window. My dad swept up hair for 25 cents. When he left to join the Army Air Corps in 1941, his uncle gave him several razors from those whose owners never reclaimed them after honing. He also bought a special razor for Dad, a gold decorated blade with ivory scales (legal then). It was in a white box with an imperial blue liner. I have no idea who made it but Dad kept it in a foot locker with his other special personal mementos, e.g., the D-ring he pulled to save his life on a bailout and the huge Bowie knife he had made from the old Bend sawmill blade when they had to replace it because it was beginning to burn instead of cut the lumber. I once saw the infamous razor strop he referred to when I misbehaved which I fortunately never felt. So much for reminiscing. As long as Max and Lynn will have me, I'm happy with sending them my razors if I get stuck. I tried to find some California hone-meisters before I knew of Max and Lynn, but most were associated with knife sharpening centers and didn't really seem to know what to do thoroughly with a straight razor but okay, I'm not looking now. Than you for bot your replies, Fal- -Mike Slate