Thread: Is Progressive Honing Always Necessary

Dear All,

if one had a professionally honed razor to start with, after a few months or so of use it dulled a bit and needed honing, would he need to set the bevel each time or even follow any progression at all? Could he just touch it up on 10 or 12k? Could this go on indefinitely on just one hone?

thanks,

danny

If there is no damage to the edge and it is dull just from use I don't see why a touch up from a 10 or 12K hone won't bring it back to life. You will eventually have to reset the bevel and use a progression but that is anyone's guess as to how long it would be before that is needed. The caveat is that you know how to hone in the first place. If you never honed a razor all bets are off that you could bring it back with only a finishing hone. Not saying you couldn't but I would not bank on it as a sure thing.

Bob

Originally Posted by Pahlavan

Dear All,

if one had a professionally honed razor to start with, after a few months or so of use it dulled a bit and needed honing, would he need to set the bevel each time or even follow any progression at all? Could he just touch it up on 10 or 12k? Could this go on indefinitely on just one hone?

thanks,

danny

Excellent question!

No, if the razor has a properly set bevel and hasn't been damaged - it can be beautifully refreshed using a Naniwa 12k - a synthetic stone that provides a superb edge consistently and easily with around 10-20 laps. As recommended here by many of the experts in honing, a great stone for beginners (like me even after almost two years) and will keep your razor "shave ready" for years.

Thanks Bob that is very helpful

Phrank,

Thanks for the advice.

As above good advise, I'd add that you should find out if it was honed with tape as its easier to maintain following the same way.
Good luck

Originally Posted by Pahlavan

Thanks Bob that is very helpful

You are welcome. I just saw your other post which mentions that have honed razors before. Had I know that I would have left out the caveat, sorry.

Been using a range of Naniwa super stones, 1K, 3K, 8K and 12K to restore old razors for myself. I could not agree more with Phrank and others that say a 12K Naniwa is a consistently good performer for doing touch ups on a shave ready razor.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

You are welcome. I just saw your other post which mentions that have honed razors before. Had I know that I would have left out the caveat, sorry.

Been using a range of Naniwa super stones, 1K, 3K, 8K and 12K to restore old razors for myself. I could not agree more with Phrank and others that say a 12K Naniwa is a consistently good performer for doing touch ups on a shave ready razor.

Bob

Cheers,

I know the world of hones is pandoras box.
I am trying to keep things as zen as possible...(for now at least)!

My two cents is almost the same. The only other thing I would chip in is always look before you leap, and a 20X loupe up to 60X is a great tool for making sure that is where you are at, and the other being simple an 8K or higher hone, basically any finisher. There are those who have done it on and on with a barbers hone, but that is a tricky one because barbers hones are all over the place in terms of grit and are hard to find information on which one is best.

The old saying-less is more.

As far as honing goes you do the minimum you need to do to get the edge you want. If the edge is in great shape and you catch it early a refresh on your favorite high grit stone is all you should ever need.

I don't see why you would ever need to touch the bevel unless the razor is left to deteriorate or some accident befalls it where you would need to redo the bevel.