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Thread: My Journey in Learning to Hone

  1. #11
    Senior Member Longhaultanker's Avatar
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    When I first decided to jump into this hobby I did about 2-3 months of research. All the gear from razors, hones, strops, brushes, etc. I spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos; shaving, honing, building lather, etc. I had a good idea what I wanted to get into and what I didn't. I didn't, and still don't have time or inclination for vintage restoration work. All my razors are either new production or new old stock (NOS). I never suggested jumping from beginner to honemeister overnight, but a beginner must begin, not hesitate. My very first purchase was the Norton 4K/8k and 2 Gold Dollars, and I started. I progressed; bad hone jobs, bad shaves. I persisted, got better. As I bought good quality new production razors some came shave ready, some didn't. I learned and got better. Today, I wouldn't dream of sending out a razor for a professional honing. I understand there are more advanced issues, geometry issues, etc., that require more expertise. But let the beginner begin.
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  2. #12
    Senior Member blabbermouth RezDog's Avatar
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    I have always been amazed by your story. You are a man of persistence for certain. I too started with several months of research, then purchased two shave ready brand name razors from an online retailer in Canada. I did start to learn to hone on some NOS vintage razors I purchased. Our stories are not that far apart, and neither is the OP's story. You learning shaving and honing simultaneously is quite the achievement. I actually think that every one that learns either of those to skill sets has made a milestone achievement. Doing it both at the same time is quite the undertaking. I compare it to doing simultaneous university degrees. Not everyone has the drive and skill to do it.
    It's not what you know, it's who you take fishing!

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  4. #13
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    For me what I did was buy a honed ready to shave razor from a reputable source. Shaved with it. Then when it needed honing tried myself. Shaved with it and honed again. Then sent it back for Professional hone and asked for feedback on what I'd honed to. That gave me a good confidence boost !

  5. #14
    Senior Member Longhaultanker's Avatar
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    RezDog, I thank you for your polite and courteous reply. I've not been shy sharing my sr story. Something brought each of us here: finding great grandpa's straight in the attic, or, in my case, bored in the truck at night. I went looking for a hobby, and I found one. God bless YouTube. However, there are somethings that pass for general wisdom, sacred cows, that really ought to be slaughtered. And this one the OP brought up is #1 on my list. Rather than say wait, learn to shave first, learn what a shave ready edge is first, we ought to be providing options on how to get started honing. I did both simultaneously. The OP did same. Others too. If someone told me no, wait, I'm going to do what I want to do anyway. As you say, shaving and honing are two different skill sets. No reason both can't be learned simultaneously if the beginner so desires. Anyway, thank you again for you courtesy.
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    Senior Member blabbermouth bluesman7's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Longhaultanker View Post
    When I first decided to jump into this hobby I did about 2-3 months of research. All the gear from razors, hones, strops, brushes, etc. I spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos; shaving, honing, building lather, etc. I had a good idea what I wanted to get into and what I didn't. I didn't, and still don't have time or inclination for vintage restoration work. All my razors are either new production or new old stock (NOS). I never suggested jumping from beginner to honemeister overnight, but a beginner must begin, not hesitate. My very first purchase was the Norton 4K/8k and 2 Gold Dollars, and I started. I progressed; bad hone jobs, bad shaves. I persisted, got better. As I bought good quality new production razors some came shave ready, some didn't. I learned and got better. Today, I wouldn't dream of sending out a razor for a professional honing. I understand there are more advanced issues, geometry issues, etc., that require more expertise. But let the beginner begin.
    That's pretty much my story too. I started straight shaving because of my interest in honing. I ran across the straight shaving forums when researching stones for knife honing and I specifically bought a straight razor at a flea market to see if I could hone it well enough to shave with and to see if I could actually make an edge "razor sharp". After 2 or 3 weeks of daily shaving I purchased a professionally honed razor to compare to my edge and found that I was doing pretty well. Once I had two razors, I honed my first razor until it performed better than the professionally honed razor, then rehoned the pro edge until it was better than that . By leapfrogging my two razors my honing kept getting better.

    I certainly understand the logic of learning to shave first. That would be the sensible way to do it to remove a huge amount of variables. But if a beginner has an interest in honing, I'm with longhaultanker in saying "go for it". It would be easier to learn the shaving first, but the goal is to follow your interests and have fun. Everything does not have to be done in the most sensible way and the outcome only affects the person doing it. If it's not working he/she can always retreat to just shaving off of pro honed blades and delay the honing for a while.
    Last edited by bluesman7; 05-22-2017 at 12:26 PM.

  7. #16
    Senior Member Wayne1963's Avatar
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    I started honing at the same time as I did straight shaving. The razor I shaved with was honed by Lynn. I used it as a yardstick to measure my honing progress. If you're going to begin honing and straight shaving together, this is the route to take.

    Be aware that you'll probably degrade your pro honed razor pretty quickly during your rookie phase. A month into shaving with it, don't assume that it is still sharp, unless you're getting stellar shaves. If your shave is just a tad uncomfortable, the blade is probably due for another honing. Yes, go through the hassle of sending it out again. It was after I got my blade re-honed that I realized just how awesome straight shaving could be.

    As already mentioned, shaving and honing are two different skill sets. You can learn both at the same time.
    Last edited by Wayne1963; 05-22-2017 at 01:19 PM.
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  8. #17
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Yup, I too came to straight razors from an interest in honing. The guy I bought hones from, (at a gun show, because that was where you bought them in 1974), told me, If, you like sharp knives, you should look into straight razors.

    The next time I got a haircut, I asked my barber about it. He was the only one I knew, that used a straight. He ordered me a kit, Bowdin, Blue 4/8 carbon steel razor, Illinois leather linen strop, a boar brush, puck of soap and a 6 inch Translucent Ark.

    I watched him hone it, (no tape) and he showed me how to touch it up on the ark, strop and shave. I mucked up the edge, took it back to him and watched him fix it and got some more pointers on stropping.

    It took a while, but eventually I got a shaveable edge. I shaved with that one razor for over 10 years, and still have it.

    A lot depends on the person, and it is a lot easier now days to learn with the internet and the quality of stones and paste available. But one thing is certain, just because it shaves, your edges and shaves will be a lot better a year from now.

    For most new guys, it is important to learn to strop properly, that is where most edges are damaged.

    As with most things in this hobby, there are no absolutes…

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  10. #18
    Senior Member blabbermouth Speedster's Avatar
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    Life is too short for unnecessary waiting, so I started to learn how to hone very early on. I had plenty of razors on hand to know what a shave ready blade felt like when properly sharp, and I had the good fortune of living near enough to Glen to be able to receive hands-on instruction from the YT honing video master. Lastly, I am not afraid to make mistakes in order to learn a new skill. Even my custom blades were not safe from my efforts to learn how to hone.
    --Mark

  11. #19
    Senior Member rodb's Avatar
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    I started everything at once as well and glad I did. I was lucky to have a VERY good honing teacher (Randy Tuttle:randydance062449) almost in walking distance from my house and I highly recommend some one on one lessons, but it can be done totally by yourself if that is the only option.
    Last edited by rodb; 05-23-2017 at 03:49 AM.

  12. #20
    Member jamesrupertball's Avatar
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    @Pete123,

    How many hours have you got into it? I've so far stayed away from honing, but I think the time has come to DIY. Just wondering how long it took you to get to a stage where you were getting comfortable shaves - obviously there are a lot of variables - but give me your experience. Thanks,

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