Thread: My honing experience so far

Originally Posted by Gammaray

Yes, I am suggesting only stropping strokes above 4k for newbies. Not as a long term solution, but to prevent killing the edge with too many edge forward strokes. This is not my usual routine, but I have seen it work for sons, brothers, and friends that I have helped to get started, until they are learn that "less is more" when it comes to honing the edge to perfection.

For what it is worth, the three stage honing of DE blades is done entirely in the stropping direction. The rotating, spiral grinders never go against the edge. This can be a very valid approach, especially when getting started. But it takes longer than edge forward strokes.

Hey, if it works for you then it works for you. Many things on this forum are validated with YMMV. I have tried things that many would not recommend but they worked and in the end it's about having fun.

I couldn't resist, I had to give it one more go. I gave it 8 light laps on the 8k stone and a good stropping. Skipped the 12k stone. I needed to shave again this morning. I don't know what it is but since I started wet shaving my facial growth comes in much faster. Tried the HHT and it pretty well failed. I said screw it and used it to shave with this morning. I got one heck of a smooth shave with it. Not perfect but pretty darn good. Didn't even struggle with the thick chin weeds. Atleast I didn't get any nicks or cuts. A little razor burn but that is no doubt my beginner technique.

Good to hear of your success! And you've just proven to yourself that the HHT is not a reliable indicator of good shaves. When you do regular honing and use the HHT a lot with the same type of hair over and over, you will start distinguishing the results of the HHT and relate them to edge sharpness. Once you've done this sort of calibration, it will become a more reliable test.

So, I am now convinced that the problem wasn't my honing technique but rather my strop. Its a new horsehide strop that was quite stiff. After a some use it seems to be losening up. Now my razor is performing really well now. Matter fact, I didn't even have to clean up with my DE for the first time tonight.
I borrowed some of my wifes hair and it passed the HHT like a champ. My hair not quite as well. I guess the HHT could have some deviation depending on the hair used when performing it.
Any thoughts?

The HHT must always be calibrated to the hairs you have available, if all else fails buy an old boar bristle brush, re-knot it, and save the bristles just for HHTs. Good stropping will always improve an edge, a razor with a just ok test shave can become a good one on the second or third shave just from stropping. Jonathan