Thread: Starting hone for practice razor

Yeah, practice of course on a cheaper razor, but I think it's worth noting that if the razor has 'issues' (i.e. a lot of hone wear, warped, etc) it'll be really hard to know if you're doing a good job or not. I feel that a good way to practice is to take a razor that's not your very best, but still good enough to shave with, kill the edge and go from there. A really good thread on this is the JANorton thread; I really think we should do that again this January, but we have to act fast!!!!

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Where are you located? jasontg99 is bang-on with his recommendation, but if you're not in the USA there are other options that may be more local.

I live in Whitehall, MI. It's 20 minutes north of Muskegon, MI. Does he do professional honing?

Originally Posted by creagan09

I live in Whitehall, MI. It's 20 minutes north of Muskegon, MI. Does he do professional honing?

Who do you mean by 'he'? If you mean straightrazordesigns, then heck yes! It is part owned by Lynn Abrams who founded SRP, and who has probably honed more razors than pretty much anyone else alive.

So if you are looking to purchase a shave-ready razor, they will point you in the right direction. If you need to get a razor that you already have professionally honed, check out the classifieds:

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Who do you mean by 'he'? If you mean straightrazordesigns, then heck yes! It is part owned by Lynn Abrams who founded SRP, and who has probably honed more razors than pretty much anyone else alive.

So if you are looking to purchase a shave-ready razor, they will point you in the right direction. If you need to get a razor that you already have professionally honed, check out the classifieds:

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Oops! For some reason I thought you meant jasontg99 does honing. Does WhippedDog.com provide good service? I'm a college kid and I'm ok with getting a cheapie razor to try it out. I've noticed he has some inexpensive ones.

That's a resounding "YES!" on whippeddog.com. Larry -- the proprietor -- enjoys a fine reputation amongst SRP members. One of his "sight unseen" razors would be an excellent idea for you. The razor you would receive would not be pretty, but it would be ready to go shave a mosquito when you received it.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

That's a resounding "YES!" on whippeddog.com. Larry -- the proprietor -- enjoys a fine reputation amongst SRP members. One of his "sight unseen" razors would be an excellent idea for you. The razor you would receive would not be pretty, but it would be ready to go shave a mosquito when you received it.

Great! I've also been advised to get two razors so I can keep one as a shave ready model in case I want to practice honing on the other. Is honing something I can get into relatively easy, or should I leave it to professionals for now?

To me, a practice razor would be one of good steel and geometry, but of low cash value. There would be no great loss if nooby mistakes do damage. It may have cosmetic issues. Properly honed and stropped, it should give an excellant shave. It would not be a cheap new razor of poor quality that can never take an edge, or a damaged razor needing extensive expert restoration before it can shave.

One cannot learn to drive in a wrecked car. One can learn to drive in a high miles car in sound condition but having low value. A low end shave ready razor from the classifieds or Whipped Dog comes to mind.

I bought King Japanese Waterstone Combination 1000 / 6000 G Water Stone from ebay
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=310358347174

I also bought an Enzo England cheap razor to practice honing on.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=190534362580

I also bought the big daddy strop from Star Shaving

Crazy thing is, Im New to honing and stropping but have managed to get this razor to pass the hanging hair test. Lots of you tube videos to follow.
Shame the razor weighs a tonne otherwise i might have actually used it.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Bingo !!!! my thought also

I was honestly thinking how the heck do ya practice honing and the final outcome not be a Sharp / Smooth edge that feels good on the face Reminds me of that one guy that was offering honing on e-bay and bragging that he never test shaved the razors.. I asked him "How the heck do you know if yer getting any better if you don't test shave"

To the op, I am not making fun of you, the term "Practice Razor" just took me off guard

When i started honing i did use a practice razor that i purchase locally a beat up W&B with a large chip, i breadknife that razor then used it to learn different strokes on the hones, go forward a few months turns out that the practice razor been part of the rotation ever since and shaves like any good old Sheffield razor.

Originally Posted by creagan09

Great! I've also been advised to get two razors so I can keep one as a shave ready model in case I want to practice honing on the other. Is honing something I can get into relatively easy, or should I leave it to professionals for now?

Definitely get 2 razors! Having a back-up whilst one is out for honing decreases the probability that you'll relapse into the horrible status of using a Mach-3 again.
I'm not into honing at all (yet), but it seems that many members here have had success in learning how to do so. It is obviously a skill that can be learned. That having been said, just like everything else in life, not everyone is going to be equally adept at honing or learning how to hone.