Thread: Touched the hone for the first time.

Well, I finally touched razor to hone.

I bought a Whipped Dog Sight unseen back in May and have been shaving and stropping on leather since then. I have went to the balsa strop and CrOx and FeOx a couple of times. Seem to be maintaining the edge reasonably well.

I bought a big CNAT finishing stone(8 x 3 Guangxi) in anticipation of needing a refresh. I lapped the stone and got it smooth and flat. The stone is a bit wedge shaped, one long side thinner than the other by about a 16th of an inch. Debating about whether to try remedy the bad geometry, it will take ALOT of elbow grease...

With my second pro honed Whipped Dog in hand for backup in the event the honing went south, I finally decided to put razor to hone tonight. Before and after HHT is night and day! Shaves seemed to be getting more challenging on the ATG, pulling a bit, etc.

Razor seems much better. Tonight's shave will tell the tale though.

It seems that barring accidents, the degradation of the edge will be gradual and the decision of how often and how invasive the refreshes will be quite subjective.

I feel like that if I do not let it degrade too far between the hone refreshes that mitigate the geometry deterioration from stropping, then I should be able to go indefinitely between full hone jobs...right?

Once all your stopping skills are up to par
You should be able go many years without a full hone up needed just refreshing properly on a finisher and pastes

I watched lots of the videos that are referenced here, but this video was instrumental in getting the courage up to go to the hone.



Seeing an inexperienced person do the work themselves and receiving guidance seemed to hit home better than tutorial videos showing a master at work describing the process.

Just the light touchup honing was very rewarding and I see a full stone set and some restorations in my future...

Thanks to those involved in this video!

Oh...Almost forgot the shave report!

The shave was back to the original quality as i was when I first got the razor, smooth and easy.

I agree on that video. It's one of my favorites! Thank you Glen!!

Yes, that was intimidating honing with Glen watching over me and on video no less for the first time. Fun day for sure. Thanks for the comments.

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I agree on that video. It's one of my favorites! Thank you Glen!!

and Mark


I have always liked that vid myself also

Even I don't like to hone in front of Glen

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Even I don't like to hone in front of Glen

Yeah and I don't like to strop while yer watching

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Even I don't like to hone in front of Glen

I'm too new and too dumb. I see myself just showing Glen what I use and how I use it. I'm a sponge. A wise man takes correction willingly. While I'm still training up wisdom, I am not beyond correction and the path of wisdom and truth. Indeed, that is what I seek.

Thanks Glen.