Thread: Time between honing?

I've been shaving daily with a Lynn Abrams honed razor for almost 3 weeks. It is going better and better as I develop more skill and confidence. My question is this: when will I need to give it the prescribed 4-5 strokes on the barber hone I'm getting from Red Trader, to bring back the keeness?

“Be respectful to your superiors, if you have any” – Mark Twain

As long as it's shaving without pulling or irritation, it's all good. I know that the razor was honed to the top of its potential and that you must have the touch for stropping, but what's the razor's make/model(if any) and grind?

Glad you are enjoying. Usually you can get 2-3 months on a freshly honed razor before needing a touch up. Some folks a little sooner depending on thickness of beard and stropping.

Good luck.

Lynn

Lynn, thanks for your input, I hope that you know how valuable everyone on this forum feels that your opinions are and how much we appreciate hearing your thoughts! When you say 2-3 months, how many times a week are you thinking about? BTW, I have several razors that Lynn has honed for me and they are the bomb! I hope to some day approach his honing level, one can dream, can't one?

Interesting - many here feel they need to touch up every 7 or fewer shaves. You have ~ 20: great job! Now, there are a couple of guys here who can go on for about a year or so.

What is your stropping routine, what beard type, razor, grind - interesting to know, indeed.

I myself have no razor that I have used more than 7 times, and most of these uses were after honing sessions to fine-tune the edge. I think the most I have had from a single razor without hones / touch up is 3-4 shaves - just because I have quite a few, don't shave often, and always like to try new razors.

Soon I will select just a few razors and (after a fine-tuning period) I'll start my experiment to see how many shaves I can get without honing. I have the lofty goal to duplicate the success of honedright and puffah, to name a few.

Cheers
Ivo

I've been using a Mitchell straight razor for the past 3 months or so. I've only had to touch it up a few days ago with a Chinese waterstone. It's a 6/8 and German steel. My Sheffield steel razors, which are in the process of being restored, usually go for about a month without needing a touch up. The only strop I use is a belt and a linen piece with soap on it. When I notice that the razor starts to pull a little often, I opt for more stropping rather than direct honing.

When I started I went a month before needing a touch up on my razor, but I could have gone longer had I been better at stropping. I imagine I could have gone a month or two more with the razor, but most find they dull their razors a little quicker when first learning to strop. I touch my razors up about ever few weeks now, but this is just a few passes on the pasted paddle to refine them a bit. As long as it shaves comfortably, then you're good to go.

Matt

I've used my Tony Miller kit dovo for about 40-50 shaves with only chromium oxide being used in the last week or so. It wasn't shaving bad but figured it could use a touch up. I don't have a paricularly light beard either. So I was kind of confused to hear how often most people have to hone their razor ---- maybe I can tolerate a little bit more tugging than some.


Justin

I think its just because we like to hone so much .

I notice a slight decline in comfort after about two weeks. It doesn't pull, but it doesn't glide smoothly around my chin like a freshly honed edge. It's not really uncomfortable, but I figure since the paddle is hanging right there, why not.

Matt

I am talking daily use Rich.

Lynn