Thread: My Honing Epiphany

Originally Posted by Badgister

I would like to add that I have stopped using both hands when honing. I get much better results using one hand and hone wear is more even.

This is the real learning point . . . Well done!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

This is the real learning point . . . Well done!

Whatever gives you better results is what you should stick with. If using 2 hands does, use it, one hand same thing. I still use two hands doing rolling x strokes on smiling blades to roll the pressure from the heel to the toe but on perfect blades that aren't warped and completely flat/straight I stick with one.

I love vintage razors that I hone myself. I have really enjoyed learning to hone as well. Its a great feeling when something clicks and you start consistently getting shave ready edges. I agree about the Chasers. Before I got the Chorosa (and Naniwas in general) I did not really get what feedback was. When I figured it out on the Naniwas and it helped translate into other stones. Once I learned to get a good bevel on the Chosera I knew how the blade was supposed to feel on the stone and what a properly set bevel felt like and I was then able to get it on my other stones. I bought about 14 vintage razors on ebay just to learn how to hone on. Luckily once I got them sharp I wound up with some damn good shaving razors. My best shaving razor is one of these. A Palmer Chicago made for the Palmer hotel. I paid about 20 bucks for it and it gives me the closest most comfortable shave of all my razors, new ones included.

5 months have passed since my honing epiphany, and the fun thing about this hobby is you learn something new everyday. It truly is an art.

My newest conquest was honing a smiling frameback razor that proved to be quite a challenge to hone. I couldn't get a small portion of the heel as sharp as the rest of the blade. I tried swaying x-strokes, but alas, it didn't solve the problem. After much despair, I shaved with it and it performed wonderfully! so I figured, just leave it.

Nevertheless, the fact that I couldn't get an evenly sharp edge bugged me, even it is was a negligible portion of the heel.

So I added a new technique to my arsenal that I never performed before, and I am proud to say that I nailed it!

The rolling X-stroke did magic on the blade, and brought the entire edge to a beautifully shave ready edge.

Now both the razor and I have a big shiny smile!

Originally Posted by jpcwon

There's nothing like shaving with a razor you've honed yourself...it's a great feeling!!

Perhaps something that's right up there with that feeling is the satisfaction you get from the first shave after fully restoring your first razor. A truly magical feeling.