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 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 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 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

I've always honed my own razors but here lately my results are pretty hit and miss. It may be time to replace my Ace Hardware special with a Norton 4K/8K. My hectic work and school schedule have made honing parties almost impossible lately and I find myself doing a lot more shavette and DE shaves. Maybe over Christmas break I can hone up the fleet and get them squared away.

I hone my razors because I wanted to be self sufficient and there is no-one in the state I am in that I could send my razors to (as far as I know). Also, as someone who is REALLY bad at handyman type things, I wanted to learn at least ONE 'manly skill'...
I also find it quite relaxing, although at times it can also be frustrating...

It is great fun and I would not want to have to depend on others.

I personally enjoy honing. To me it's a very "Zen" process, and rubbing steel on stone is rather relaxing IMO...

Just as I enjoy trying new razors, I enjoy trying new hones even more. I went thru a synth phase, then a coticule phase, and finally JNATS. Lately I have been enjoying finishing on an Escher. Honing on an Escher w/slurry is something special - the silky smooth feeling of it is addicting. Now I am trying to refinish a lot of my razors (I have close to 40 of them) on Escher becuase I can't get enough of that buttery feeling!!

Do I hone? Yes. Do I do it right? Perhaps not by most peoples definitions. Though I did get a cheap 440 stainless Sweeny Todd blade converted into a good shaver. After a few modifications of course. Don't try that at home kids. I am a trained professional. Professional what? That remains to be seen.