Thread: Honed to success

After much experimentation and some help from Damon, I've successfully honed 4 razors to shave sharp status after going at this for about a month now. I've used a variety of pyramids, with and without an x pattern, lifting and not lifting off towards the end of the stroke and I discovered my own method for this madness of honing. Great shaves now too! It's so much easier and gratifying with a sharp blade.

I have a Bismarck leather/linen strop that I've been using, but the strop that I got from Damon is remarkable, so now I'm going to use my bismarck for travel and Damon's exclusively. His are almost half the cost of the the store bought ones too. Ten laps and your ready to shave. If anyone wants to try it out after I buy my own, let me ( or Damon) know.

Originally Posted by misteredwino

... I discovered my own method for this madness of honing. ...

I'd love to know what it is.

X

I'm simply referring to a combination of things that I learned from this site that work for me.
1.Pyramids
2. Checking the progress frequently
3. Keep pinky finger curled under to ensure flatness
4. Making an X pattern heel to toe...and sometimes toe to heel if the heel is taking an edge faster.
5. Listening for changes in sound, seeing the edge improve visually, thumb test, and then the hair test.
6. Razor IQ test.
7. I shave the neighborhood cats, always use hot water.
8. I do the eyebrow test (shave them off), but unfortunately I can only do it about twice every three months.
9. I get my guests drunk, and then shave them to see if my razors are sharp...after all, nothing like the shave test, right? More tequila, Bob?
10. Shave everyone and everything in sight, strop, repeat.
11. Brag to all of my friends that my razor is sharper than their dad's razor.
12. I shave the carpet, that's how I know my blade is shave ready. I kinda have a thick beard.
13. I go from 1k, to 4k, to 8k, to 12k. then I use a pasted strop. Then I hone on piece of glass. Then I hone on silk. Then I hone on water only. After that I hone on just the air itself....careful not to over hone though!
14. Smell the blade
15. Taste the blade?(not responsible for those dumb enough to actually try this...please don't, it's only a joke)

So that's my method, what's yers?

Originally Posted by misteredwino

3. Keep pinky finger curled under to ensure flatness

This one sounds intriguing but I'm having trouble visualizing it.

I knew I had a good student, now the student has become the master.

What no left hand forefinger in the right ear while honing and pinky finger when stropping?

Originally Posted by Damon

I knew I had a good student, now the student has become the master.

Nobody can become a master of honing in 1 month. 4 razors is a good start, but the young grasshopper has a long path ahead before earning the designation of honemeister .

Originally Posted by misteredwino

13. I go from 1k, to 4k, to 8k, to 12k. then I use a pasted strop. Then I hone on piece of glass. Then I hone on silk. Then I hone on water only. After that I hone on just the air itself....careful not to over hone though!

Hey, when you hone on air, do you lead with the edge or the spine?

All joking aside, I really learned a lot here and I look forward to improving in the years to come. I felt many of the frustrations that are common to newbies, but I didn't give up and kept my mind on what I was doing. Perserverance, patience, and good information have all been the key to improvement. Now if I could one day pass on what I know to Abe Lincoln, ZZ top, Father time, and Jesus, perhaps I could help them tame those beards...... Now where's that cat?

Originally Posted by misteredwino

I'm simply referring to a combination of things that I learned from this site that work for me.
1.Pyramids
2. Checking the progress frequently
3. Keep pinky finger curled under to ensure flatness
4. Making an X pattern heel to toe...and sometimes toe to heel if the heel is taking an edge faster.
5. Listening for changes in sound, seeing the edge improve visually, thumb test, and then the hair test.

....

So that's my method, what's yers?

Steps 1-5, but I use the Rolling Hone instead of the X motion.
I'm already X enough.

X

P.S. When you say "Check the progress", which tests do you like?