Thread: Who hones and who just doesn't want to?

I've bought a couple hones and have been learning for a while now and some days it clicks and I'm successful in what I'm trying to accomplish, and others, I feel like I've hit a brick wall.

I've considered getting rid of my hones quite a few times and just saying to heck with it.

I know that a lot of the community here is either honing their own razors, learning to hone their razors or somewhere in between. I also know that there has to be some who just couldn't be bothered with buying hones and learning to hone...after all, this is money that could be spent on new razors, right?

Not trying to get into specific issues or anything like that, just a poll and discussion on who hones and who doesn't and why

I hone because I can only shave once a day but I can hone ALL day, and sometimes I do.

I do... at least, I used to. I have the Norton 4K and 8K stones, the DMT coarse, fine, extra-fine, and extra-extra-fine, and a Spyderco UF, along with a few pasted hard-wool felt strips. I've just never gotten good enough with the hones, and (as JimmyHAD would say) I end-up "polishing turds". I thought I'd get better at it (what I really thought is that it would get easier)... but it didn't, and I didn't. If I had the money, I'd send out a dozen or so for proper honing, and be content to maintain their edges (I'm good at that); but I don't... at least, not to spend on honing. One good thing that's come out of this is that my technique has gotten really good, and I can get a DFS -- sometimes, even a BBS -- from a less-than "shave ready" razor. All-in-all, it's a hobby, and a satisfying and enjoyable one, at that.

Smooth shaving! (see ya on the SOTD)

I hone because it relaxes me...mostly. I renew and shave with quite a few razors and honing saves a ton of cash...for me. I find and try hones and experiment with different series and types to find what I like best.
Just a geezer's view of the subject.
~Rihcard

In honesty, it has become my favorite part of this hobby
Much to the dismay of my collection who is totally honed to death by now.
Well, not quite, but they do see a lot of stone-time

I don't hone yet, but I really look forward to it. For now I will just touch up my razors with my Swaty and keep shaving.

Used to,just sold my hones.Actually got pretty good at it but found it to be boring repetitive work.
A pro honed blade in my rotation lasts me a year or more and are many pros on SRP that hone for what I consider cheap.
I have better things to do,let the experts do it.

In this neck of the woods we be isolated and be backwards folks. Why we only got electricity a couple years ago and most don't got no running water let alone hot water. So everyone uses a straight here and we all hone. if you get stuck there are plenty of folks who can help you out and who have a different outlook on how to do what.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Used to,just sold my hones.Actually got pretty good at it but found it to be boring repetitive work.
A pro honed blade in my rotation lasts me a year or more and are many pros on SRP that hone for what I consider cheap.
I have better things to do,let the experts do it.

I'm also finding it boring and repetitive.

I'm really starting to feel the "why not let the experts do it" vibe

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

In this neck of the woods we be isolated and be backwards folks. Why we only got electricity a couple years ago and most don't got no running water let alone hot water. So everyone uses a straight here and we all hone. if you get stuck there are plenty of folks who can help you out and who have a different outlook on how to do what.

This sounds like a really good learning environment