how often to hone?

[ontariocutleryjeremy]

I'm about 20 shaves in and I noticed after about 10 shaves (light short strops) I noticed my skin irratated after shaving. Should I hone a few (3 to 4)laps every 10 or so shaves?

[ace]

You shave until you notice problems.
You should be stropping (in my opinion) 100 laps between shaves.
When you experience problems, finish the blade up lightly (don't hone) on a 12 K stone.
You don't do any honing until it is required. Finishing will go a long way (months).

[10Pups]

ace is right , you should be able to go a long time without honing. If not you need to figure out what your doing wrong. 25 or so laps on canvas and at least 75 on the leather after every shave. And, that is if you are doing it right.

[ontariocutleryjeremy]

Well as u guys know I'm still at the start of the curve and still practicing. I don't have a hone that's "suggested" its prolly no more then 1k. And my stop also isn't up to par. Its just a 3"w 30"L leather stap I sanded down then throughroly rinsed. That I picked up at hobby lobby. I haven't got the stop down just yet so anything thing more then 30laps on a strop would round my edge. I really got to get a good strop and correct hone. I probly use a 20deg angle to shave all wtg. And a lot of what I seen says 75plus is to many laps for a begginer? I love shaving like this I was a 1ce a wk shaver now its everyother morning. No matter my hardships learning I won't quit.

[ontariocutleryjeremy]

It was my understanding that u shouldn't sharpen before (wait 15min or more if u do) shaving. And shouldn't strop after a shave because the blade needs to rest and the micro water drops on the edge?

[ace]

You've got a 1K stone, a strop that isn't too good, and you don't think your stropping technique is adequate yet. That is a formula for lousy shaves, no matter how good you are with the blade. Send your blade off, practice stropping, get a quality strop and await the razor's return. Good luck!

[ontariocutleryjeremy]

Sweet I've had the hone since I could handle a knife and never knew the grit! Thanx. I haven't had any trouble with the shaves. The whole process only takes about 20 min. A 10min prep; soaking the brush while I pre-scrub then hot towel and then shave. Its amazingly close no redness (until about 10 or so shaves). I know restorers handle razors as if they were their own, but I'm not sending it off lol. I like watching the videos (all ends of shaving straight). What are some key items I need to go along with what I have? Other then an actual strop lol.

[10Pups]

I am learning and I bough a Norton 5/8k hone. This or a barbers hone should be all you need. If your razor was shave ready then I would try to bring it back on a good strop first. Stay away from your knife hone until you are ready to set bevels. I would get a different razor to learn on if I were you. I got a few cheap on e-Bay and kept shaving with one I sent out while I caught up with my skills. You should learn the strop first. Basics, then move up the learning curve.

[ontariocutleryjeremy]

Well I haven't taped it for the bevel (just learned about that). I do plan on buying a few new or refurbished (I want a mirror finish) razor. I restored this one from a rust pile it was. Its hard to believe that I can get a better still shave. I love how smooth it glides across my face n neck as is and u guys are telling me I (in more brutaly honest terms) I have a poor edge. I can't wait to shave with something better! So I gotta ask most of u have 7 or more razors. Is this for bordum reasons (id like to choose a dif razor every shave), or for less wear n tear on a single razor? I've seen some say they have multiple bc some areas are reached with diffrent blades; hollow or wedge for some areas and square or round tips for others

[10Pups]

At first I just wanted a few so I could try it out. RAD kicked in and I have a small collection now. Mostly Double Ducks but I have started getting some old old razors to fix up and try out. I have 10 shave ready but I use 7/8 of them in rotation. I will sit down today and strop everything I used this week and that's just how I do it. It gives me the time to do it right as 800 laps here and there through out my day off is no big deal. I was all over the place as far as projects go for awhile and then I sat down and set up a routine. I have somewhat set up a system that works for me and you will too. It sounds like you jumped in headfirst and are doing okay. Just read up some more and you will get it.