Thread: Honing. Keep it up or you get rusty

Well, maybe it's just me.
I sat down last night and got out the stones. I had around 20 razors in my "Needs Honed" cup so I dug in. It's been close to a year since I had done any honing and to tell the truth I could never hone again and still have a sharp edge to shave with for the rest of my life but...

I have lost the touch.???

I haven't given up but I did last night. I'm going to lap all my stones today so I'm ready to try again soon. What I was doing wrong I have no clue as I haven't lost my mind or forgotten the details or the job. Just something has escaped my grasp in this. I know with a little more time and effort it will come back but Damn! I had never thought I'd just lose the touch.


The question of my post is...
For those that havent honed in a while...
Can you just pick it up right where you left off and make great edges after many many months, or do you have to work back into it?

Now you are worrying me.

Usually, I can find a reason to put a blade to the stones at least once a month, even if it’s just for a touch up on a finishing stone.

But it’s been several months since I have honed anything other than an axe and your comments have made me anxious about losing my honing mojo.

Hmmm....can't remember that ever happening to me. But, I've had a few edges give me the fitts.

I wasn't sure about this so I figured I'd ask. Its always possible its just me.
At least thats what she said.

Limit your time on bevel setting each razor. If you can’t make it in twenty minutes oo to the next blade in a line. If you just concentrate on your problem children then you will start to question your skill level.

Originally Posted by RezDog

If you just concentrate on your problem children then you will start to question your skill level.

Great words my friend. And oh so true. Thank you for reminding me.

With a couple comments from my friends I've figured out its not me loosing my touch. Thanks to Shaun for pointing out to me that most of the razors in my cup were problem razors. Meaning I had issues trying to get an edge on them to start with so they may not have been a perfect edge. And for another fine member who pointed out that with the amount of time it has been since I last honed I have no idea on the condition of my stones and they should get a good lapping as it cant hurt but only help.

I honed up two this eve after all the lapping and I'm happy with the HHT and TPT that I got from these. The shave test is the real test but with the test results I feel these 2 are ready.

Its just a reminder that a clean work station keeping the cross contamination from different hones to a minimum, a good lapping and knowing your razors will make honing come together.
I still have my Mojo!

I noticed something similar. I've been using one razor for the last 2 years give or take, when I finally decided to break out the stones and touch up a couple of the other blades that have been out of the rotation the first edge left something to be desired. Part of the issue was honing blind, I assumed they just needed a quick and dirty touch up and closer inspection revealed some micro chips that needed to be worked out. I was probably being a little heavy handed too, the razor I was keeping up with on the barber hones is a touch thicker and doesn't require as light a hand to avoid warping the blade via pressure.

On the bright side, it's like riding a bicycle. The first time back on a bicycle in years might be a little wobbly, but by the second or third ride it all comes together and feels natural again.

I struggled to get the first edge in line, the following night everything came together and I knocked out 3 in an hour. I may revisit the blade I finished on my coticule, but that's primarily because that little yellow rock and I have a hate/hate relationship. It doesn't like me, I don't like it, and if it hadn't cost so much to have it shipped straight from Ardennes I'd chuck it into a lake and call it even.

So when you guys own and hone many many razors do they all get the same treatment? I sat down to put bevels on these clean ups I'm working on and got bevels set on 3.5 of them, but each seemed to need something a little different.

I think if I were better at a rolling x stroke, that may work on all (not sure, I'm new to impolite razors) but I imagine even with a rolling x you would have to change the amount of roll depending on the warp?

So, this brings me to the question of whether you remember the nuances of each, or if you diagnose it every time.

I have another wrinkle to inject. I just shaved with a straight this morning for the first time since my injury. I also only tried stropping once before today and after a small nick gave up before I was sorry. Just before I split my finger in half I ordered a large lot of stones. A few days ago I tried out a couple but could tell pretty quickly that my dexterity was not back sufficiently and again discretion became the better part of valor.
My concern has been that I can't separate what is rustiness from what is recovery related and what is new stone mystery.
I have decided that, for the time being I will stick with edges I have already sharp. Fortunately I have a bunch that I honed up when I had my ark-epiphany. Once I become more coordinated I will return on stones I know and am comfortable with first.