Thread: What an IDIOT!

I have been shaving with a straight for years, but I always sent my razors out for periodic honing. After lurking around on this site for over a year, I finally decided to try my hand at honing my own razors. I purchased a Norton 4000/8000 and a DMT WW8FC. I used the DMT to lap the Norton and it took awhile to get it flat even though it was new. I spent a lot of time reading the thread: Lapping 101 and found it extremely useful. I also watched Lynn's videos on how to properly hone a razor over and over the last few months and felt it was finally time to give it a try.

So this morning I broke out one of my standby razors, a Dove 5/8 full hollow and decided to take the plunge. Very slowly and paying particular attention to keep a light hand and concentrate on my technique; I began the process. I could feel the stone slowly cutting on the 4000K side and could feel the feedback from the razor and the hone. I don't know exactly how many laps I took, I just kind of knew when it was done. I inspected the edge with a magnifying glass and saw a nice, clean, even line on both sides shining at me. I then switched to the 8000K side and repeated the process on that side. Again I honed until the feedback from the razor let me know it was done. I then stropped it with .5 micron crox and finished on my latigo strop.

Now the final test and only important one; I whipped up some lather and shaved with it and that inexpensive little Dovo I was never too fond of was buttery smooth as it wiped away my 3 day growth like a squeegee on wet a window. That's when it hit me what an absolute idiot I have been throwing away my money on honing services and postage to have somebody else hone my razors! Not only that, I was also mad at myself for missing out on what a satisfying experience honing a razor can be. All this time I have been paying another guy to have that much fun!

Well fellas, I can say here and now with confidence that will never happen again! From here on out I hone my own and finally can stop feeling guilty about not acquiring this useful skill. I do know that I have a long way to go and my technique will gradually improve but I owe it all to you guys here at SRP for all of the great advice and wonderful information that is so bountiful around here. Because of this site I was able to attain a very high quality edge on a troublesome razor the first time out! Psssst.............don't tell my former honemeister!

Thanks SRP and all of its members for completely indoctrinating one more guy into the brotherhood of straight razor shavers.

Gregg