Thread: Do I need a finishing hone?

Sorry, this may be kind of a dumb question but I want to be sure.

I received a straight razor as a gift a year ago. I think it was probably in the 2-300 dollar range and from Germany. Anyhow, I've been maintaining the edge as best I can with a strop, but I've never been able to get it to pass the hair test.

I don't know much about hones, but I'm wondering if I need one. Are there any suggestions for what type of hone I need for the job?

Forget about the hair test; how is the shave?

Sooner or later, the razor will need a touchup. Any finishing hone can be used for this application. Knowing what your budget is would be helpful. You could go as inexpensive as a barber hone or spend as much money as you want.

The hair test is not any exact test. its just a indicator.

For example i cant do the test whit my hair but have no problem when i does it whit my girlfriends hair.

Yea, you need a hone of some sort. Stropping alone will eventually slow it's progress.

You don't need a hone just to get the razor to pass the HHT though.

You've done really well though with a strop alone.

I would suggest reading up on paddle strops with pastes or using a barber hone. Someone with your inherent skill and experience could probably use either with great efficiency and understanding. Ultimately it's not about diving into the edge with some horrendous 4-8K stone, but gently reshaping the outer bevel geometry.

Everyone needs to quit quit with all of the "tests", especially those who are newer to our sport...the only REAL test is the shave test. A razor either shaves well or doesn't. If it doesn't, it needs touched up.

Sorry for the rant, but it is true.

If your not really going to get into this hobby, I'd just get a Barber's hone. 3-5 passes done daily, will keep your blade shave ready. How does it shave...? You can check the classifieds here or Ebay. When it becomes too dull to bring back, you can send it to one of our honemeisters for honing. Now, if you plan on buying more razors, and really getting into this, we can talk hones...Drop me a pm if you need more info...

Rich

I don't think EVERYONE needs to stop with the tests; but I do think it is important to learn how to do and interpret the tests before attempting to use them.

3-5 strokes on a barber's hone daily, while it probably wouldn't really hurt anything, is definitely overkill. 3-5 strokes when the razor begins to pull is probably more like it.

May be overkill, but I find IME, that blades I do 3 lapps daily on a Swaty, do not require honing that often. A year or more is the norm. A Swaty is so fine and so small, the 3 lapps is negligible, and won't cause any harm. You can most definitley go a week with no ill effects.
I believe Utopian put this info out some time ago, Maybe I misunderstood him. I know he said he has razors at the gym, in a pouch, IIRC. When they dull, he turns it upside down...He is the King of Barber hones. I wouldn't mind hearing his input.

I think if you wait until your blade starts tugging and pulling, 3 lapps on a Barber hone is not going to bring it back...IME...

Originally Posted by zib

May be overkill, but I find IME, that blades I do 3 lapps daily on a Swaty, do not require honing that often.

You hone them every day! So what do you mean when you say: "...do not requiire honing that often."?

It's really simple in my view. You don't fix something that's not broken. When your razors need honing you will know it because they will tell you. If you don't listen to them and put it off the job increases. If you catch them when it's more a comfort issue it doesn't take much to bring them back. if you wait until they start pulling then you have more of a job on your hands.