Thread: Surprise in the mail

So I came home today and to my surprise I found a small package waiting for me. When I opened it up it was the barber hone I had ordered and forgot about. I paid about $13 dollars for it and was wondering if you guys could help me answer a question or two.

First, do I need to lap the hone before use? It seems smooth to the touch.

Second, the box says to use the hone with lather. Does this mean that I just whip up lather like I normally would and spread it onto the hone before using it?

Third, I fear I may have slightly dulled my razor while learning to strop. I only own one razor and I cant afford a second right now, so I don't have a properly honed razor to compare my regular razor to. So would the TPT test be sufficient in determining if the edge is refreshed? Or should I just do a few laps and see how the shave feels?

Thanks for helping a noob out!

Originally Posted by teemus

First, do I need to lap the hone before use? It seems smooth to the touch.

seems good to me. ceramics is very hard and doesn't really dish out and i don't see any chips along the edges which would be the other thing that requires lapping (or chamfering).

Originally Posted by teemus

Second, the box says to use the hone with lather. Does this mean that I just whip up lather like I normally would and spread it onto the hone before using it?

yes, or you can use it with water only, either way would work.

Originally Posted by teemus

So would the TPT test be sufficient in determining if the edge is refreshed? Or should I just do a few laps and see how the shave feels?

Yes do few laps and see how it shaves. I don't think you would be able to tell the difference with TPT since you have no experience. But do TPT too as may as well practice (remember wet thumbpad and the lightest of touch, every test damages the edge to some extent, so you want to be as gentle as possible).

Teemus,

You're in Toronto, so am I.

Do a couple laps on your barber hone, and if it feels great to shave with, excellent.

If its not as smooth as you'd like, and you want to drop by my place on the weekend, I'll hone your razor for you, so you can start fresh. I'll also lend you one of mine so that you can compare the two edges when you're starts to pull.

Let me know,
Maxi

Nice offer, Maxi! Most generous of you!

Originally Posted by teemus

So I came home today and to my surprise I found a (insert any item here) I had ordered and forgot about.

That's how you know you have the AD's.
You might be early enough to get treatment; for most of us it's too late.

lol gotta love that eh

Originally Posted by Maxi

Teemus,

You're in Toronto, so am I.

Do a couple laps on your barber hone, and if it feels great to shave with, excellent.

If its not as smooth as you'd like, and you want to drop by my place on the weekend, I'll hone your razor for you, so you can start fresh. I'll also lend you one of mine so that you can compare the two edges when you're starts to pull.

Let me know,
Maxi

Thanks Maxi!

I'll try my hand at the barber hone this coming week and see how it goes. Is next weekend alright for you? I'm out visiting my girlfriends parents in London this weekend.

HNSB: haha, yeah, hopefully it doesn't get too bad with me. It was a nice way to end the day though

Originally Posted by Maxi

If its not as smooth as you'd like, and you want to drop by my place on the weekend, I'll hone your razor for you, so you can start fresh. I'll also lend you one of mine so that you can compare the two edges when you're starts to pull.
Maxi

Bravo Maxi. All the new guys learning can be tremendously helped by experienced guys - especially when we're willing to share some gear. Imagine all the $$ we would have saved if we could try sizes/grinds/steels without having to buy and sell to see what they're like. I wish more guys would consider doing this.

Noobs: are you near Portland, OR. PM me. I'm not an expert, but will gladly have you try most if not all gear.

Originally Posted by teemus

Thanks Maxi!

I'll try my hand at the barber hone this coming week and see how it goes. Is next weekend alright for you? I'm out visiting my girlfriends parents in London this weekend.

Should be good by my books. Drop me a PM and keep me in the loop.

Thanks to the OP for posting this up. I heard a brief mention of using lather on a barber hone in a vid and wondered "Am I doing this wrong?" I'm too new to have the breadth of experience necessary to say "well it works for me so this is how I'm doing it." So I was about to get on and ask, and lo and behold the answer was sitting right here.

Also: Kudos to Maxi; stepping up to the plate like a ringer.