Thread: Is honing really that difficult?

This thread has been very encouraging for me... I have been frustrated and depressed because I can't get a particular blade (W Greaves and Sons Sheaf Works razor) sharp enough to shave my arm hairs !! It's nice to read here that I am not the only one, AND that it is not as easy as the videos make it look. I happen to have another blade that I can get fairly sharp, but still not "shave ready" - it shaves arm hairs, but it's dull and you have to press too hard. I have a third blade that I bought here shave ready - I keep it pristine and use it as my gauge of how a sharp blade should feel. I think I'll look for a mentor in Tallahassee. It's been a blessing to read these posts.

Originally Posted by DaveTriplett

This thread has been very encouraging for me... I have been frustrated and depressed because I can't get a particular blade (W Greaves and Sons Sheaf Works razor) sharp enough to shave my arm hairs !! It's nice to read here that I am not the only one, AND that it is not as easy as the videos make it look. I happen to have another blade that I can get fairly sharp, but still not "shave ready" - it shaves arm hairs, but it's dull and you have to press too hard. I have a third blade that I bought here shave ready - I keep it pristine and use it as my gauge of how a sharp blade should feel. I think I'll look for a mentor in Tallahassee. It's been a blessing to read these posts.

Your post is a Breath of Fresh Air! If only others would listen to those who have been at this for quite awhile there would be a higher success rate. Far too often a Newbie will go out spend all that money and find that it is indeed harder than the videos make it look. OR find that this age old art takes more time and patience than they care to expend.

One that gave up posted that he was Done with this straight razor crap and it wasn't what it was cut out to be. He'd purchased a Norton 4/8 and I offered him 1/2 of the purchase price with me paying for the shipping. He countered that he'd pay shipping and he asked for 60% off the original price. That I never figured out

When the hone landed, he hadn't even bothered to lap it! I sold the one I'd been using to a friend who Had Listened and waited until he'd semi mastered making lather, stropping and shaving with a straight for $20 and that included shipping paid by me.

Thanks again for the Fresh Air! :

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Far too often a Newbie will go out spend all that money and find that it is indeed harder than the videos make it look.

When the hone landed, he hadn't even bothered to lap it!

For an alternative view, the skills demonstrated by such videos as from Lynn Abrams, gssixgun (Glenn), Dr. Matt, and others are easily learned and repeatable by the new guy. I know, I've done it without a meet up or a mentor. Yes, I've talked to Glenn, John Crowley, Howard Schectner, others, by phone, but I've done it by myself. And so can anyone else by following those video instructions.

So your newbie example hadn't even lapped the hone? Hmm, sounds like he didn't invest anything on the learning side of things.