Thread: Question about honing with natural stones

The razor was gifted to me new in box. Will post a photo tonight, does this forum require outside image hosting or can i post photos directly to the site?

Originally Posted by kelbro

trannies will remove some metal with no liquid but not for very long.

Ummm, let's not call them that please.

We have enough trouble with BBWs!

You can post direct, 3rd icon from the left on the Quick Reply tool bar.

Cool, sometimes you get lucky, I have honed some that were fairly well ground, but it is rare.

Originally Posted by TheSatch

Figuring I was already started, I decided to finish and completed 10 firm pressure strokes on both sides with the black stone. When I looked at the edge, I was surprised to find it was polished well, the marks from the hard stone were gone, and the edge looked better than I had managed previously. I completed honing with 10 light x-strokes on each side on the black stone, and 10 light x-strokes on the translucent. Its the best edge I have achieved so far, and I have had no issues shaving with edges I have achieved previously.

Is it normal for natural stones to need more pressure on the finishing stones? I'm wondering if I got lucky or if it is a technique I can utilize in the future.

Your numbers are quite surprising. In general, whenever an Arkansas hone is involved the required number of strokes goes up about ten-fold in comparison to synthetics.

There's a possibility is a terrible edge, but i am able to shave with it. I'm new to honing razors, once i can take edge pictures i will post them as well.

I am wondering if since I am relatively young and my skin is still fairly tight, could that be covering the shortfalls of a poorly honed edge?

I am constantly amazed by edges of razors, folks send me, that they claim are shaving on.

But then, I recall guys shaving with old, scummy, throw away cartridge razors at the gym.

You might want to send a razor out for honing, so that you have a baseline, of what a straight razor should shave like.

My other razor is one i picked up in the classifieds here from gugi. He honed and stropped it before shipping so it was shave ready when it arrived, and it wasn't quite as smooth as the gold dollar is currently. Would you consider that a professional level hone?

As promised, a picture of the razor in question:


I did manage to get a picture through my pocket microscope, quality isn't great, but here it is:


The bright dots in the bottom third of the photo are honing fluid.

Note: this blade has not been stropped since sharpening

Just by looking at the white along the edge in that photo.. it looks rough.

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Just by looking at the white along the edge in that photo.. it looks rough.

I looked at it again, those are much smaller beads of oil. I will strop it and take another picture.