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Thread: Razor Honing Record

  1. #1
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Default Razor Honing Record

    Razor Honing Record

    The other day I found a 1930-40’s, 7/8 Colibri #70 in the Shave Ready cup. I keep 3 cups in my shaving cabinet. Shave Ready, Test Razors and razors that need more work. Maybe 20 razors, a fraction of the collection. I really don’t have a “rotation”. I shave with new to me razors and keep them in the cups until something new comes along or a favorite comes out of the collection.

    I will often clean a “new” razor and hone it before restoring, usually test shave the next day, but if the edge is exceptional, I may shave with it for a week, two or more. Additionally, I test shave customer razors, so at times I run out of beard.

    I shaved with the Colibri 70 and it had a smoking edge, shaved a dream. Problem was I do not recall how I finished that particular razor. I am always testing stones, Naguras, combinations, strops and pastes. Customer razors get a pretty standard progression and finish on proven stones and nagura. I experiment with my razors.

    So, I have decided to keep a record of razors I hone. Information about the razor, how honed and most importantly finished, stropped and the shave test. I want to keep enough information in case it turns out to be important, but not so much it becomes laborious and I won’t do it.

    I know a few of you keep a log/record, and looking back on it, it seems like a good idea, a very good idea, especially for new honer.

    I want to make it as easy as possible, so that I will do it every time and I can quickly look up information for reference.

    I plan to use a 5x7 journal and write down the information. Here is what I was thinking of collecting. I will keep a Journal with an index using the Bullet Journal index method for quick searchability.

    Page Number
    Date
    Razor, Brand, Width, Scales (for ID)
    Bevel Stone
    Transition Stone
    Finish Stone
    Nagura,
    Strop, Paste
    Test Shave
    Notes

    What information do you keep, how and why?
    MichaelS, JOB15, AlanQ and 1 others like this.

  2. #2
    Skeptical Member Gasman's Avatar
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    I keep info like what i paid for it, who it came from. But that could go in your notes. I enjoy having my log on the computer. I just wish i knew more about how to use it as id make so.e changes. But for now its fine. Id send ya a copy of mine Marty if the damn black box wasnt so much smarter than me.
    It's just Sharpening, right?
    Jerry...

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    Euclid440 (11-05-2019)

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    Senior Member blabbermouth outback's Avatar
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    I've thought about it too. Most all of mine are honed the same as the last. But there are a few I finished on a Swatty, that shave a real treat, but for the life of me, I can't remember which ones they were. I'd have to look with a loupe to find out, and at roughly 200 razors, oh well..!!
    Mike

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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Instead of going thru all the that just print up slips like this and keep with razor.Name:  15729747868871585362997.jpg
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    Name:  1572974841251-211722259.jpg
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    Euclid440 (11-05-2019)

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    I would classify myself as someone who fairly recently graduated to the "intermediate" level of honing. Keeping a log helped me move up from the "beginner" level, without a doubt.

    I'm still developing my system, but I use two methods. First, I have a notebook where I just keep the date and shorthand what I've done. The razor, honing progression, shave test results, shave test date, and any relevant comments. I also keep an online database of my razors, strops, stones, brushes and soaps, which serves as my "inventory". I use Airtable, the free version. It's easy to use, you can link tables, add photos, and because it's online it's easy to access from whatever device I'm using. In this database I note what finisher was used on my razors (if it was a razor I honed myself), so that I don't need to go flipping through pages of notes.

    My eventual plan is to set up a form in the database so that I can track what I use for each shave, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. The idea is based on the Shavebuddy app, which I felt was a good idea but very limiting. I felt I could build something better myself.

    Super geeky, I know....

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    Euclid440 (11-05-2019)

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    Senior Member blabbermouth ScoutHikerDad's Avatar
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    I've tried numerous methods for doing this with various notes, tables and spreadsheets, and agree that it is a great and useful thing to do. Problem is, I almost never remember to update my notes when I'm actually honing, and then I sometimes forget how I got my best edges (though these days that's usually going to be from one of my Arks, a thuri, or the Vermio as the final stone-the waterstone progression to get there is almost always the same: Chosera 1k, Norton 4/8 and Nani12-then the fun starts!).
    There are many roads to sharp.

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  11. #7
    Senior Member blabbermouth Kees's Avatar
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    I do not keep records. If I cannort remember it probably wasn't worth remembering. I usually have a small rotation of razors that were honed the same day the same way and use those till the edges starts to annoy me. Than I think of a way to hone them and do so. Or I take 3-4 different razors and hone then in a way that I fancy.
    Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.

  12. #8
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    I think I have successfully avoided HAD and as a result, have a pretty standard honing progression.

    If I have to work up a new bevel, I use a Shapton Kuramaku 1000 or an Atoma 1000 if there is a lot damage or chipping. When I first got it, I used to go old school and start with heavy slurry on my coticule, but not often and not recently.

    Then I continue the bevel setting with my Norton 4K/8K combination stone. I know there are better stones, but I don’t hone for a living and don’t have to reset a bevel very often. And, I have a certain loyalty to this old workhorse of a stone.

    Most of the time, once I feel the bevel is where I want it, I use a natural combination coticule because I feel I have finally figured it out and it seems to work well with all my razors. I almost always finish on my Vermio although sometimes I try a small Thuringian I recently acquired or an Oozuko Jnat. The last two are used when I feel like trying something different.

    I know I should, but I don’t keep a record of the honing I used with a given razor - that would be too organized and I don’t think of it until I pick up a razor and can’t remember how it was honed.
    David
    “Shared sorrow is lessened, shared joy is increased”
    ― Spider Robinson, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

  13. #9
    Senior Member TristanLudlow's Avatar
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    I'm old fashioned, I write everything down with pen and paper; then again my collection is probably not as grand as some of yours

  14. #10
    Skeptical Member Gasman's Avatar
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    Number of shaves on a blade is also good to record.
    MichaelS and Steve56 like this.
    It's just Sharpening, right?
    Jerry...

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