Thread: 2 cents worth a nickel

after reading these I can't really remember who said what but I've been at honing things all my life. knives, hand and cross cut saws, axes, chains for saws pretty much all kinds of blades. but when I started to hone razors that was a different animal. it took a lot of practice and watching Glynn and Gssixgun on the u tube to get where I didn't scream when I shaved or bled to death. knives can get pretty dog gone sharp but not sharp enough for my face. remember we are shaving not scraping a hog once you get as good as the two gentlemen I've mentioned (I'm not) then it is easy until then we all endeavor to preserver

Originally Posted by jsmiff

thanks for the honest answer. I guess im over simplifying honing......and some people don't like that.

Don't take it the wrong way. There are quite a few people here who have learned that honing a razor isn't always as easy as it seems.

We all learn the same way though. Grab some hones and some steel, and try it! The one thing that folks are adamant about is, if you are new to shaving with a straight, spend the couple bucks and get a razor honed by a pro. It's helpful to know what sharp feels like.

Originally Posted by robellison01

Don't take it the wrong way. There are quite a few people here who have learned that honing a razor isn't always as easy as it seems.

We all learn the same way though. Grab some hones and some steel, and try it! The one thing that folks are adamant about is, if you are new to shaving with a straight, spend the couple bucks and get a razor honed by a pro. It's helpful to know what sharp feels like.

You are right. and that is what I did. I have ended up with quite a few razors in the last 6 months and at least half have been hone by two of the best or at least in my opion. but I also bought the stones to play with my self. and I have had fun wearing out the old blades I got just for that. if I get a razor I think something of then it goes out. that way I know it's right. the others I get the ones that don't really matter I hone them my self. so far I can shave with some and not others. I have better luck with the extra hollow. anyway i'm having fun shaving and honing now when in the past I didn't. I guess that's what really matters. have fun with something you're going to do anyway. so lets all have fun.

a good edge vs a perfect edge is kinda like a Ferrari vs an old school muscle car....both will go fast but all you truly need is a Honda.

I put this in the advanced honing section for a reason.....I am by far a newb when it comes to sharp objects but Im new to straights. after the learning curve (proper stroke/proper pressure) it seemed pretty straight forward.IMO that should be pointed out for those who are new to straights but have an understanding of how to sharpen tools/blades.

Sure trying to learn shaving, plus honing at the same time isn't recommended but necessity is a good motivator. whats more motivating to get your edge perfect than a bad shave?

What motivated me was feeling what a pro honed edge feels like (after I knew how to shave). I've been chasing that edge since then. What I mean is I though my 8k norton edges were getting pretty good, and they had definitely improved since starting honing, then I shaved with a pro honed edge and instantly realized I was selling myself short. When you think about it, honing isn't a hard concept to grasp. Executing is the tricky part. Takes practice and patience.. and of course good stones which get expensive.

There are very many things that are simple, but not easy.

Having your bevel geometry pre-determined by the thickness of the spine and width of the blade is very simple. Dragging steel over a hone is likewise simple. Angle, speed, direction, slurry, pressure, and varying these things during each stroke is actually fairly simple.

But making it all come together in a comfy sharp shaving edge isn't always easy.

If one always only honed factory new grinds, then he might have a luxurious simplicity in his honing (only complicated by minute variations in hardness brought on by in-tolerance variables of alloys and heat-treatments) but the stuff like chips, dings, pits, frowns, warps, odd wear, and whatnots (including much wider variations in alloys and heat-treatments) make real-world honing a bit more "fun".

Sometimes it is. Enjoy those times.

This is a thing you won't learn until you start making mistakes. dive in the water is fine!

And don't feel singled out or anything, there's a brand new knife/chisel guy pops in about every 6 days to let us know how simple and easy this is.

Originally Posted by jsmiff

I said its easier than honing any knife, my point is, if you can sharpen a knife, sharpening a razor will be an easy task.

The other side of the story, will maybe make it more clear

Honing a Knife is way easier, I simply fire up the grinder set the edge into the little notch and do both sides, 1 minute... I then walk into the house and refine that edge for about 30 seconds on a set of old very old Spyderco crock stix and that puppy will slice anything I need for 6 months or more with just occasional touch ups.. What is difficult about that ????

I find the process of honing both knives and razors sooting and put time into the subject, from that perspective it is most probably not easy but the time flies because I am having fun. The common message I get from the forum IMHO is, if you do not have experience do not expect to drag the razor over any old stone a couple of times and have a decent edge. Experience what it is like to shave with an edge from someone who has been there and done that. Have a backup plan just in case you do not nail it the first time, maybe start slowly to get your muscle memory up by touch-ups and maintaining the edge. Too many newer shavers stop shaving with an S/R because they get discouraged after using a dull blade and suffering. If you do hone and have problems, you’re not on your own, if you jump in the deep end and have success, why and please share your secrets.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The other side of the story, will maybe make it more clear

Honing a Knife is way easier, I simply fire up the grinder set the edge into the little notch and do both sides, 1 minute... I then walk into the house and refine that edge for about 30 seconds on a set of old very old Spyderco crock stix and that puppy will slice anything I need for 6 months or more with just occasional touch ups.. What is difficult about that ????

smh that's sounds like a good way to sharpen lawnmower blades.

Originally Posted by Crackers

if you jump in the deep end and have success, why and please share your secrets.

#1 buy new razors
#2 1 high quality finishing stone 1 quality strop
#3 lots of research (in person and online)

the most important thing, is to relax and remember its just a piece of metal and a piece of stone. i was told by an 80 year old man "unless you drop the razor you shouldn't have to hone it for a long time, just a good stropping and you are ready to go"