Thread: Are You A Real Man? Do You Think You Can Hone? Shave Off Of Your 1k Hone

Originally Posted by Utopian

I'm far from a beginning trumpet player, but I never learned jazz improvisation. I've always wanted to learn but never have done anything about it. I keep seeming to find other priorities.

Very cool! How long have you been playing? Do you play professionally?


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I'm old so a long time, but nothing near professional. When I was in high school, I could not decide between going to college to become a doctor or going into the Navy band to go toward professional. Unfortunately, I did not get into the Navy band. Two weeks after starting college I got a call notifying me that I was accepted into the Air Force band. They were offering me the opportunity to start basic training in just a few weeks. Maybe if they had contacted me BEFORE I started school, I might have gone. I should have gone. It would have made college later a lot easier to pay for but I already had my first taste of freedom and I could not let that go! Ultimately I ended up becoming neither a doctor nor a musician.

I played in college and since then have occasionally played in community bands and theater orchestras, but not really at all for the past nearly 10 years. I do miss it. I have good intentions to get back into it, at least playing with my home town's community brass band again next year, but those priorities keep right on interfering. Winning the PowerBall would help immensely, but I suppose I'd occasionally have to buy one to do that.

I'm going to continue on as my best friend 'Carl' (we've been friends for over 52 years) played the trumpet in the Jr and High School Band. His dad (my second father) was very involved with the local VFW and he'd have Carl play Taps and other military tunes at functions.

Well Carl was born with his top two front teeth pretty much sideways. After graduating from High School and College Carl had his teeth straightened with braces. Once the braces were off Carl was home and his dad wanted him to play for a VFW function so Carl broke out his trumpet and try as he could he couldn't play the damn thing! The air just didn't come out the same as when his teeth were crooked.

Damn was Pop pissed! He just couldn't understand why Carl couldn't play.

Well, my teeth have remained crooked so I don't have that for an excuse!

I think we were talking about honing here!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, my teeth have remained crooked so I don't have that for an excuse!

I think we were talking about honing here!

'WERE" is the key word!

My apologies my friend!

Now back to honing and shaving off of the bevel set!

I didn't mean for the thread to go off on a tangent- I was merely pointing out how we all start somewhere and this thread will help many new honers (myself included) better understand how to set a proper bevel.

For those that are more advanced maybe it will remind them not to get sloppy with basics?

For all it is opportunity to contribute their knowledge and experience for the benefit of others- always a good thing.

By the way I have been continuing to shave off of each stone without stropping, then stropping linen/shave, leather/shave palm strop/shave. I don't think I'm going to be getting rid of all of my stones but I am absolutely stunned by how well a razor can shave without being levitated over a $1,500 hand harvested stone from a secret monastery on the summit of Mt. Everest wet with the tears of Angels.

We are rubbing steel on rocks, cotton, and horsehide and scraping hair off our faces folks...just like our ancestors did 100 years ago. I don't think they analyzed it this much [emoji23]


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Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, my teeth have remained crooked so I don't have that for an excuse!

I think we were talking about honing here!

I think he's saying that if you have an out of flat stone and you flatten it, you might not be able to play the trumpet.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ultimately I ended up becoming neither a doctor nor a musician.

Sounds like a handle change to "Dr. Treble Clef" is in order!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Dave, I completely get, and agree with, your point. Yes, subsequent hones can make up for a less than perfect edge off of the 1k. This is exactly why I almost always follow a 1k hone with either a 1.5 or 2k hone.

You are right. It is not necessary to get the absolute best edge off of the 1k when it is going to be followed by another hone, as long as that 1k edge is at least in the ballpark of adequate. The thing is, we all have seen the opposite many many times. That is, when the bevels are not adequately set and then, after going through a full progression, the razor does not shave at all.

This challenge really is geared toward those who do not have a proper appreciation/understanding of what each hone can do. In theory, I already know this, but I feel that I continue to benefit from experimenting with this stuff too.

I was sort of cranky yesterday. Of course, I still think the same stuff (I *do* think it's important for the 1k to have completely set the bevel and not rely on later stones, even though you can get away with it, just that I don't think it's necessary to *refine* the bevel with it to be able to shave), but I probably wouldn't have posted on other days.

For Sdm and others, it's all touch, smell, see, hear (I don't think anyone tastes, but I have probably at some point - I don't remember - but maybe just to see if the stones taste like chalk like they sometimes smell like). At any rate, one of the great pleasures in life is learning by touch, smell, see and hear rather than reading or over-analyzing. A friend of mine calls this craftsman's sense - when you learn what's so without necessarily being able to communicate it as such. It's a feeling of what's working right rather than a bullet point checklist.

While this isn't my thing for exercises (watch the spines on those practice razors!!), it is time at the hones and certainly my radar may be off about how helpful it is. Getting the bevel set completely and evenly without damage, getting a uniform polish without compromising geometry or leaving damage, and a good linen and leather that don't degrade an edge - all of it's necessary and time at the stones (this exercise, included), builds the craftsman's sense.

I apologize for busting up the party. If it was enough to put a hitch in developing these senses for a couple of readers, then that's certainly not the right direction, either!!

I can gladly say I have joined this list of 1k shavers after being encouraged by Glen. Very interesting experience to say the least. Thank you for promoting this challenge!

It shaved keener and smoother than expected that's for sure. Great way to learn what bevel setting means and doesn't mean!