Thread: New to honing, where to find best instructions?

Originally Posted by RezDog

There is nothing like hands on, one on one. Get to a meet if you can or meet with an experienced members. \

^^^^^ This. The absolute best instruction will be in person.

I started three years ago with two Gold Dollars, a Norton 4/8k combo, then the Shapton Glass series 1k 2k 4K 8k 16k 30k. I now have over 30 razors, most of which I’ve honed myself, with my progressing knowledge and ability. I would not change a thing about my own development. You’ve got the right tools for a beginner - the Gold Dollar razors. Use them, hone them, trial and error. You make a mistake, no worries, it’s only a GD. Better to make a mistake on a GD than on any quality vintage or modern production razor.

Watch Lynn Abrams, Glenn (gssixgun), drmatt357 on YouTube, others at your discretion and discernment.

There are some real garbage videos out there, but the guys here will guide you in the right direction. Just wait until you stumble across the video of the yahoo that is sharpening the razor dry!

I wouldn’t hone dry on a brick. I might add milk like that one video. But because stones have their own unique qualities, some might lend themselves to being used dry. Example: I advocate using the Zulu Grey dry. I use the ZG exclusively dry. Some use water, some oil, etc. It is such a hard, heavy, dense stone water just runs off. Oil works fine. But so does just dry. I use ZG dry to great satisfaction.

I learned an awful lot about bevel setting from this thread, esp how to tell if it is set:

https://straightrazorpalace.com/honi...ggestions.html

That is one of the best threads I have seen in part because the pictures are so good.

Originally Posted by RezDog

That is one of the best threads I have seen in part because the pictures are so good.

I didn’t realize you’d already posted that link. Yes the pictures help a great deal. This is where I learned about the Shiny Spots or White Line on the apex of the bevel. When I set a bevel, I think in terms of removing the white line along the whole edge.