Thread: First post- input needed about hones

not yet? Do you have any recomendations?

question when shaving the razor didnt pull at all ?

If you are passing the HHT then you are good to go really. Don't rush into buying a bunch of stones that you potentially won't use. Although there is no substitute for actually trying things, you can learn lots by buying just one or two items.

The ONLY definitive test for a razor is a shave, NOT "HHT". Even then I am concerned as you don't have a "barometer" to gage your razor by. Over my first year of honing, I repeat, year, I kept a razor honed by one of the best in the business sitting around to gage my razors shaving ability. I would like to see you get off on the right foot & if you have a second razor I would offer to hone it if you cover shipping. Once you get to where your edge matches it, then you can send it to a pro to see if you can EVER match it...it's a fun journey!

Originally Posted by JohnnyNorth

If you are passing the HHT then you are good to go really.

What if there is a wire edge?

Originally Posted by shooter74743

The ONLY definitive test for a razor is a shave, NOT "HHT". Even then I am concerned as you don't have a "barometer" to gage your razor by. Over my first year of honing, I repeat, year, I kept a razor honed by one of the best in the business sitting around to gage my razors shaving ability. I would like to see you get off on the right foot & if you have a second razor I would offer to hone it if you cover shipping. Once you get to where your edge matches it, then you can send it to a pro to see if you can EVER match it...it's a fun journey!

I don't think that it is needed for every straight shaver to be able to hone like a pro. If the result he gets is good for him, why should he buy a lot of expensive hones, and try to match Lynns edges?

I'm not saying you need a lot of stones, I'm just saying that you need to know what a good sharp (shave ready) razor is all about...this is why I was offering the OP to hone a spare razor for the cost of shipping. This member has experience with a shavette and his freshly honed razor only...not a razor honed by someone who has been in this "game" for a bit. There is a great difference and I would like to see someone starting out to start out on the right foot knowing what a shave ready razor is all about. When we are honing, I would HOPE that each and every one of us wants to obtain the very best possible with what tools (both physical tools and mental tools) we have. Most of us aspiring to better our edges & skills will have a razor honed by someone better than theirselves to have a "goal" to try to attain.

Shooter, thank you for the info and the offer to hone. I just bought a second razor last weekend and would love to send it to you to hone. I will first hone it and try to get it the best I can to get some feedback from someone with experiance.

Sure, just PM me when you are ready. Do your best with it, shave with it and make some notes or even post them here. Then send it to me and I'll shave with it and give you feedback via PM. If it needs honed, I will hone it, ensure it shaves well, then send it back. This will at the least let you know more. The quest for knowledge (and of course a great shave) is what it's all about. If I ever stop learning...I'll more than likely be resting in a pine box...

Originally Posted by pike3e

Shooter, thank you for the info and the offer to hone. I just bought a second razor last weekend and would love to send it to you to hone. I will first hone it and try to get it the best I can to get some feedback from someone with experiance.

Great idea put an edge you find suitable on it and let shooter see it'd it's an okay edge. If it needs improvement shooter can give it a nice edge and hopefully some pointers. I've never used pastes after an 4k but I do know SRP is a rather stone-centric group. Historically many straight razor users only had access to pasted strops and it worked for them so who knows. A great offer from shooter, that's what makes SRP what it is!