Thread: How long does it take you to hone a razor.

OK, seriously then.

A new Dovo from the factory usually takes me around a 1/2 hour up to 45 minutes from go to whoa (bevel to finisher). I've done so many of these now that I just know what is needed and it's relatively quick as a consequence.

Vintage razors can take anywhere up to 5 hours all up, maybe more, though I've never really timed those kind of resto honings - that's just a guesstimate. It depends on a lot of things like the grind, the edge condition etc.

Probably more important than the time it takes though is just to make sure what you are doing is working. From that point of view honing is timeless. For certain things (like factory Dovos) practice brings the time down eventually. For others, experience helps but each razor needs to be taken on its own merits. In the end what you want is a good edge - it doesn't matter if it takes a 1/2 hour or 20 hours (though I suppose if you want to hone for money it may effect your bottom line if you continually take days to hone a razor...)

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

OK, seriously then.

A new Dovo from the factory usually takes me around a 1/2 hour up to 45 minutes from go to whoa (bevel to finisher). I've done so many of these now that I just know what is needed and it's relatively quick as a consequence.

Vintage razors can take anywhere up to 5 hours all up, maybe more, though I've never really timed those kind of resto honings - that's just a guesstimate. It depends on a lot of things like the grind, the edge condition etc.

Probably more important than the time it takes though is just to make sure what you are doing is working. From that point of view honing is timeless. For certain things (like factory Dovos) practice brings the time down eventually. For others, experience helps but each razor needs to be taken on its own merits. In the end what you want is a good edge - it doesn't matter if it takes a 1/2 hour or 20 hours (though I suppose if you want to hone for money it may effect your bottom line if you continually take days to hone a razor...)

James.

Exactly! I just honed up two ebay specials and each one took the better part of the day. Only because I took my time with them and made sure they were silky smooth and sharp. Really took my time on polishing and stropping the edge. No way I would take that kind if time if I was honing for money. Not consistently anyways. I would have to find some way to speed things up but right now I enjoy it and take my time.