Thread: My Honing Epiphany

Gents,

During the past couple of months, I have honed more razors than I have during the 8 years or so I have used a straight razor. This is due to my new interest in vintage razors.

Adding a chosera 1k and a dmt coarse lapping to my honing routine has made things much easier for me and here are my conclusions.

a) lapping the stones is very important, especially the soft and porous norton 4k.
b) The honemeisters are right, setting a good bevel is the most important step. Getting a sharp hair popping edge on the 1k is really worth the time and one shouldn't move to higher grit stones until that bevel is as sharp as it can get off that stone.
c) After having set a good bevel on the entire edge, a progressive or pyramid method will get you to shave ready fairly quickly.
d) stropping on chromium oxide ( I use balsa wood) before stropping on the leather will bring that edge to that scary sharp level.

Lastly, for someone who only until recently starting using vintage razors, I have to say! I prefer them over new production razors.