I've been str8 razor shaving and attempting to become decent at honing my own razors for about six months now. I would say I have been fairly successful at honing. I have at times struggled with difficult razors for one reason or another, mostly from my newness and inexperience to honing. I would like to share with you something that has happened with me in regard to my honing skills:

I have in my honing arsenal: a DMT #D8C, 3x8, for lapping, DMT #W6EP, 2x6, for bevels, a 3x8 Coticule, a 3x8 Blue Belgium, a 2x8 Mueller Thuringen, and a 2x6 MST Thuringen, and a .5 CRO2 paddle strop.

I recieved a Puma, 4/8, on an Ebay auction. Unfortunately, it had a very large chip at the toe (convieniently not pictured in the auction pictures). - otherwise, in very good condition (paid $42.00). I got out the 1200 DMT and started working on getting out the chip(yes,I taped the spine). It wasn't going well, or fast enough for me. I looked over at my DMT 325 continuous that I have used only for lapping, and thought, "Why not! What have I got to loose". I started on the 325, and very soon I had worked out the chip, and under the scope, the bevel was GREAT. I went to the 1200 DMT and started with a series of very, very light X patterns. Took it to the scope, and WOW, the bevel was very dark with little to no light on the edge. I then did X's on the Coticule and the Mueller Thurengen till I was very happy of what I saw in the microscope(and, yes,I now leave the tape on throughout the entire honing prceedure). Stropped it 100 times and got, perhaps, the best shave of my str8 razor life(and I have been getting great shaves)! BTW, I have discontinued using slurry on all of my hones. I have found it doesn't seem to help my edge any, if anything, the edge seems to deterioate with this process.

Since then, when I have an old Ebay or even an old razor that I want to clean up from past honing efforts, or a new blade, I go straight to the 325, then to the 1200, and now I hardly use the 4K Blue Belgium anymore, or the Coticule, - I go straight to polishing on the Mueller Thuringen for the finial polishing phase. I have been incredably successful my last 12 or so razors by using this method. My shaves have been more than exemplary - each one is better than I could ever imagine. I can't seem to find the words to describle how incredable the edges on my razors are, and how unbelievable the shaves have been.

The new formula: 325 DMT + 1200 DMT + Mueller Thurengen. Yes, there are some variables in there, but if I have an old bevel that isn't polishing up well, or an edge that I just can't seem to darken the sparkles of light on, I go right to the 325, and it's just downhill and easy from there.

My entire world of honing has opened up and changed, for the better. Honing has become easy, quick, and a real joy. I know there will be those of you who will critisize this for going against SOP(standard operating proceedures), but, I'll tell ya, this is really, really, working for me!!!!

NOTE: I would like to thank Josh Earl for showing me that it's okey to try different things, even though it may not be "an accepted way in the opinion of the experts". "Josh, you are my hero, and I thank you!"

Thanks, and Best Regards,

Steve Boyd